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diff --git a/31729.txt b/31729.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..38d81be --- /dev/null +++ b/31729.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15085 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Apple, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Apple + +Author: Various + +Editor: Kansas State Horticultural Society + +Release Date: March 22, 2010 [EBook #31729] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE APPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Giacomelli, Stephen H. Sentoff and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images produced by Core +Historical Literature in Agriculture (CHLA), Cornell +University) + + + + + + + + + +THE APPLE. + +THE KANSAS APPLE. +THE BIG RED APPLE. + +The Luscious, Red-cheeked First Love of the Farmer's Boy. +The Healthful, Hearty Heart of the Darling Dumpling. + + +WHAT IT IS. + +HOW TO GROW IT. + +ITS COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. + +HOW TO UTILIZE IT. + + +[Illustration] + + +COMPILED AND REVISED BY THE +KANSAS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, +WILLIAM H. BARNES, Secretary, +State Capitol, Topeka, Kan. + +1898. + +[Illustration: J.S. PARKS PRINTER TOPEKA] + + + + +THE APPLE! WHAT IT IS. + +DEFINITION. + + +=The fleshy pome or fruit of a rosaceous tree (_Pyrus malus_), the +origin of which is probably the wild crab-apple of Europe, cultivated in +innumerable varieties in the temperate zones.= + +=It is scarcely known in the wild state, but as an escape from +cultivation its fruit becomes small, acid, and harsh, and is known as +the crab; the cultivated crab-apple is the fruit of other species of +_Pyrus_. Of the cultivated crabs there are the Siberian (_Pyrus +prunifolia_), the Chinese (_Pyrus spectabillis_), and the Cherry-crab +(_Pyrus baccata_), all natives of northern Asia.= + +=The apple was first introduced into America from England, in 1629, by +the governor of Massachusetts Bay.= + + + + +LAWS PERTAINING TO APPLE ORCHARDISTS. + +Extracts from General Statutes of Kansas, 1897. + + +CUTTING OR DESTROYING FRUIT- OR SHADE-TREES. + +(Vol. 2, p. 374.) Sect. 423. If any person shall cut down, injure or +destroy or carry away any tree placed or growing for use, shade or +ornament, or any timber, rails or wood standing, being or growing on the +land of any other person, or shall dig up, quarry or carry away stones, +ore or mineral, gravel, clay or mold, roots, fruits, or plants, or cut +down or carry away grass, grain, corn, flax or hemp in which he has no +interest or right, standing, lying or being on land not his own, or +shall knowingly break the glass or any part of it in any building not +his own, the party so offending shall pay to the party injured treble +the value of the thing so injured, broken, destroyed or carried away, +with costs, and shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be +subject to a fine not exceeding $500. + + +DESTRUCTION BY FIRE. + +(Vol. 2, p. 372.) Sect. 415. If any person shall wantonly and wilfully set +on fire any woods, marshes or prairies so as thereby to occasion any +damage to any other person he shall upon conviction be punished by fine +not exceeding five hundred dollars and not less than fifty dollars, or +by imprisonment in the county jail not more than six months and not less +than ten days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. + + +DECEPTION IN SALE OF TREES, PLANTS, ETC. + +(Vol. 2, p. 318.) Sect. 126. Any person or persons who shall misrepresent, +deceive or defraud any person or persons in the sale of any fruit, shade +or ornamental tree or trees, or any vine, shrub, plant, bulb, or root, +by substituting inferior or different varieties, or who shall falsely +represent the name, age or class of any fruit, shade or ornamental tree +or trees, or any vine, shrub, plant, bulb, or root, shall be guilty of a +misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be fined not less than $10 nor more +than $200, or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than thirty +days nor more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, +and shall be liable to the party or parties injured thereby in treble +the amount of all damages sustained, to be recovered in any court having +jurisdiction thereof. + + +TO PRESERVE ORDER AT HORTICULTURAL FAIRS. + +(Vol. 2. p. 955.) Sect. 4. All county agricultural and horticultural +societies, duly incorporated under the laws of this state, shall have +power during the time of holding their fairs to appoint such police +force and make such laws and regulations as shall be deemed necessary +for the well ordering and government of the society. + + +WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. + +(Vol. 2. p. 944.) Sect. 11. Green apples shall weigh forty-eight pounds per +bushel. Dried apples shall weigh twenty-four pounds per bushel. + + +AN ACT FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. + +(Vol. 2, p. 934.) Sect. 1. The owner of an orchard may at any time shoot +blue-jays, orioles, or yellowhammers. + + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + THE APPLE _page_ 5 + THE STATE, BY DISTRICTS 42 + A SUMMARY OF THE FOREGOING DISTRICT REPORTS 187 + MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES RELATING TO ORCHARDS 191 + ENEMIES OF THE APPLE 204 + APPLES FOR THE TABLE 218 + INDEX 225 + + + + +THE APPLE. + +THE CHEMISTRY OF THE APPLE TREE. + +Written specially for "The Kansas Apple," By Prof. E. H. S. BAILEY, +Chemist at the Kansas State University. + + +In the cultivation of the apple tree, which, like most plants, gets its +nourishment from two sources, the soil and the atmosphere, these must be +first considered. From the soil come the mineral ingredients, those that +are given back to the soil when the plant is burned, and from the +atmosphere come the ingredients of no less importance in the growth of +the tree, but which mostly disappear as invisible gases upon combustion. +Upon the character of this soil, and upon the climate, a general term +that may be said to cover the conditions of the atmosphere, depend the +success of the horticulturist. In addition to this, insect pests are +liable to constantly menace the crop. + +In the making of soils, a process that is constantly going on, the most +important agents are water, air, frost, sunshine, and the action of +living organisms. By this combined action, the mountain, with its rich +store of mineral matter, is disintegrated, its constituents are partly +dissolved in the water and partly carried mechanically to the plains +below; the air is distributed through the soil; seeds are dropped; the +living animal forms begin to multiply; the soil is enriched, and +gradually it begins to be in a condition suitable to bear the simpler +forms of vegetable life, which in turn decaying, add to the richness of +the soil. + +Furthermore, the mechanical condition of the soil has much to do with +the successful growth of the plant. If the soil is extremely fine, it is +liable to become so compact that the rootlets cannot easily penetrate +it, when it is of such a composition as to bake readily in the sun; if +very coarse, like gravel, there is not a sufficient capacity to retain +moisture. It should, however, be porous enough to allow the air to +penetrate it, for upon the aeration of the soil depends much of its +fertility. We loosen the soil about the roots of plants to allow the air +to penetrate and give an opportunity for the chemical changes constantly +undergoing in the soil. Then, too, the work of the earthworms in +loosening the soil, and thus adding to its porosity, should not be +overlooked. In this soil workshop, too, live and labor certain minute +organisms that make it their business to enrich the soil by helping the +rootlets to assimilate the nitrogen of the air. + +Since the soil is composed mostly of ingredients that come from the +decomposition of rocks, it follows that is must be of very complex +composition. Fortunately, however, there are only a few of the +ingredients of the soil that are of interest to the agriculturist, as +only a few of the elements, as they are called, go to make up the plant +structure, or at least only a few are essential ingredients of the +plant. Nitrogen, though very abundant in the air, is not abundant in the +soil. In fact, the soil has to depend largely on the nitrogen compounds +that are washed out of the atmosphere in small quantities by the rain. +Another source of nitrogen is the action of certain bacteria, that make +little sacs on the rootlets and, living on the juices of the plants, fix +the nitrogen of the air, and thus fertilize the soil; especially on +plants of the leguminous family, as peas, beans, and clover. + +Silicon, which with oxygen makes ordinary sand, is essential to the +growth of plants and is everywhere found in abundance. Sulphur, united +with oxygen and the metals to form sulphates, is generally abundant +enough. The same may be said of chlorine, which, united with sodium or +potassium, is always present in our prairie soils. Phosphorus, as it +occurs in the phosphates, is one of the most essential ingredients of a +fertile soil. Calcium and magnesium are found in combination as +carbonates and sulphates, and, though essential, are usually abundant, +especially where limestone rocks underlie the soil and outcrop in so +many places. Potassium is found united with chlorine or sulphuric acid. +It is one of the elements that is most liable to be exhausted from the +soil by a succession of crops. Sodium exists almost everywhere. It is +one of the elements of common salt, and, though much like potassium, +cannot take the place of the latter in plant nurture. Iron is abundant +and at the same time necessary in small quantities. The elements above +mentioned, together with oxygen, are to be found in the ashes of plants. +Besides, there are two elements that come largely from the atmosphere, +namely carbon and hydrogen, which, united with oxygen, make up the bulk +of the plant. Thus, wood is a substance containing carbon, hydrogen, and +oxygen, with small quantities of nitrogen and mineral salts. The mineral +salts represent about one per cent. of air-dried wood. + +Having considered in a general way the constituents of the plant, and +having noticed the source of each of these constituents, it may be of +interest to look at the composition of the soil as revealed by chemical +analysis. "A" is the analysis of a soil from Finney county, as made in +the laboratory of the Kansas State University, by the author. "B" is a +soil from Wyandotte county, as reported in the report of the Kansas +State Board of Agriculture for 1874. "C" is a prairie soil from Dakota, +as reported by Prof. E. Richards, of the department of agriculture. + + "A" "B" "C" + Silica and insoluble 71.66 82.16 69.82 + Iron and aluminum oxides 6.55 6.70 12.05 + Calcium oxide 4.41 .68 .85 + Magnesium oxide 1.02 .06 .87 + Phosphoric anhydride .18 .08 .11 + Chlorine .01 .03 .03 + Potassium oxide .75 .05 .72 + Sodium oxide .25 .11 .94 + Sulphuric anhydride .06 .39 .12 + Volatile and organic matter 3.98 5.44 8.90 + Moisture 9.67 3.80 6.27 + Undetermined, carbonic acid, etc. 1.48 .30 .22 + ------ ------ ------ + 100.00 100.00 100.00 + +In some cases it happens that there is a sufficient quantity of an +ingredient in the soil, but it is not in a sufficiently _soluble_ form +to be available. It will be noticed that in the analyses quoted above +the amount of the necessary constituents of the soil to plant growth is +not in any case large. The nitrogen may be present in the volatile and +organic matter, and upon the proportion of this complex organic matter +very often depends to a great extent the fertility of the soil. + +Some experiments made at one of the agricultural experiment stations +upon the effect of "apple stock," that is, young trees raised for +nursery purposes, on the soil, showed that in eleven tons of such stock +the following quantities of ingredients were removed from the soil: + + Silica 50.6 lbs. + Phosphoric acid 21.4 " + Sulphuric acid 14.3 " + Chlorine 1.3 " + Carbonic-acid gas 94.9 " + Iron oxide 6.1 " + Lime 138.6 lbs. + Magnesia 23.7 " + Soda 21.3 " + Potash 27.1 " + ----------- + Total 399.3 lbs. + +This is no inconsiderable quantity of material to be removed by a single +crop. + +Professor Goessmann, in discussing the ash of fruits, gives the +following analysis of the ash of the Baldwin apple; this would represent +the mineral matter taken from the soil by the fruit: Potash, 63.54 per +cent.; soda, 1.71; lime, 7.28; magnesia, 5.52, and phosphoric acid, +20.87. Comparing this with the ash of other fruits, it is seen that the +amount of potash required is larger than in the case of other fruits +except plums and peaches, and the amount of phosphoric acid is high, but +not as high as in the case of some berries. The application is obvious; +in order to successfully raise apples there must be an abundance of +potash and of phosphoric acid in the soil, and these ingredients must be +in an available form. + +If we compare the apple and the pear by an analysis for fertilizing +constituents, or such constituents as are usually introduced into +deficient soil by means of fertilizers, we have the following table: +1000 parts of the fruit contain, in the case of each, + + H2O N Ash K2O Na2O CaO MgO P2O5 SO3 SiO2 + Apple 831 0.6 2.2 0.8 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 + Pear 831 0.6 3.3 1.8 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.1 + +When we study the composition of the apple, to determine the "proximate +principles," as they are called, it is noticed that we have the +constituents mentioned in the discussion of the elements contained in +the fruit combined to form various substances; thus: + + Apples. Pears. Cherries. Peaches. + Water 82.04 83.95 75.73 84.99 + Sugar 6.83 7.00 13.11 1.58 + Free acid .85 .07 .35 .61 + Albuminous substances .45 .26 .90 .46 + Pectous substances .47 3.28 2.29 6.31 + Soluble 14.96 10.90 17.25 9.39 + +Free acid in fruits is not neutralized by sugar, but it is well known +that an abundance of sugar will cover up the sour taste of a fruit. The +constituents above noted are mostly found in the expressed juice of the +fruit, and give it its characteristic flavor. Without the sugar in these +juices it would not be possible to make any alcoholic beverages from +them. In the process of fermentation, in the case of apple juice, we +have first the change of the sugar to alcohol and carbonic-acid gas, +which imparts to cider its characteristic taste and tang. Afterwards, +the alcoholic solution, in the presence of the organic matter, is +subjected to what is called acetic fermentation; that is, the vinegar +plant grows at the expense of the organic matter in the cider, and this +beverage is converted into vinegar, containing acetic acid. It is a +familiar fact that the change does not readily take place except when +cider is exposed to the air, and this is shown to be true from a +chemical standpoint, as the cider really is oxidized to make the +vinegar; that is, it takes up oxygen from the air. + +The greater the proportion of sugar, the greater the quantity of +alcohol, the stronger the vinegar will be. Grapes contain more than +twice as much sugar as apples; hence, a wine that is made from them is +stronger in alcohol than a cider made from apples. Cherries, as will be +seen by reference to the table above, contain a large amount of sugar; +hence their use in making cherry brandy, which contains a large per +cent. of alcohol. It should be said, however, that in order to make +brandy the cherry juice must be distilled. In this respect the process +is similar to that employed in making apple brandy. + +After the juice has been extracted from the apples the pomace that +remains is sometimes used as a fertilizer. This is valuable chiefly on +account of the mineral salts contained in it. An analysis of the pomace +shows that it contains: Water, 69.90 per cent.; ash, .71; albuminous +substances, 1.58; fiber, 4.87; nitrogen, free extract, 21.24; fat, +1.71. + +The acid of the apple is usually considered to be malic acid, but really +there are several acids mixed together. It is a mild and agreeable +vegetable acid, and its presence adds much to the flavor of the fruit. +The pectous and albuminous substances are those that assist in the +formation of fruit jellies. Some of these substances are liquid when +hot, and gelatinize on cooling; by too long boiling they lose this +property of gelatinizing; hence the precaution that is taken in the +making of fruit jellies not to boil the juice too long. + +The subject of the ripening of fruits like the apple has been +extensively studied, as has also that of the subsequent decay. According +to recent researches, early varieties of apples contain little starch +when picked, and do not keep well. The season, soil, and age of the tree +affect the composition of the fruit. It has been shown that sugar is +sure to be formed from the starch in the process of ripening, after the +fruit is taken from the tree, and during the winter the cane sugar is +gradually, and finally almost entirely, changed to directly-reducing +sugar. The maximum sugar content is reached earlier the earlier in the +season the apple ripens. Late winter varieties reach this point as late +as November. There is much starch in the latter when picked, which +gradually changes to sugar on keeping. This process is analogous to the +ripening of the banana. This fruit is picked while green, and from it is +made by the natives of South America a flour which is a good farinaceous +food, and readily answers the place of the starchy grains. We are +familiar with the fact that as the fruit ripens it contains large +quantities of sugar, and is edible uncooked, which fact is usually not +true of starchy foods. + +The subject of the decay of the apple has been discussed in a very +interesting way in the _Popular Science Monthly_ for May, 1893, by Byron +D. Halsted. Though chemical changes take place here, also, and the apple +is finally resolved mostly into carbonic-acid gas, water, and mineral +salts, yet these changes are brought about by the action of various +fungi which find a soil favorable to their growth in the apple pulp. + +Though apples are considered digestible and wholesome, their +digestibility is much increased by cooking. This is especially true if +some of the starch is not converted to sugar, for, as noted above, +starch, to be readily assimilated in the system, should be cooked. There +is probably no fruit that is so uniformly wholesome and so deservedly +popular with all classes as the apple. The apple and pear were known in +England before the conquest, and, indeed, probably before the Saxon +invasion. They have been gradually "improved" from the wild crab-apple +of Europe. It is stated on good authority that there is no country on +the globe so well adapted to the growth of this fruit as the temperate +regions of North America, and this seems to be demonstrated by the fact +that the apples of the United States are superseding the native fruit in +most of the civilized countries. + + ANALYSES OF THE ASH OF THE APPLE. + + Sap-wood. Heart-wood. + Potash 16.19 6.620 + Soda 3.11 7.935 + Chloride of sodium .42 .210 + Sulphate of lime .05 .526 + Phosphate of peroxide iron .80 .500 + Phosphate of lime 17.50 5.210 + Phosphate of magnesia .20 .190 + Carbonic acid 29.10 34.275 + Lime 18.63 35.019 + Magnesia 8.40 6.900 + Silica 1.65 .700 + Organic matter 4.60 2.450 + ------ ------- + Totals 100.65 100.535 + + +ANALYSES OF APPLES. + +One hundred pounds of average apples contain the following: + + No. 1. + + Fiber 3.2 lbs. + Gluten, fat, and wax .2 " + Casein .16 " + Albumen 1.4 " + Dextrine .7 " + Sugar 8.3 " + Malic acid .3 " + Water 82.66 " + Error .08 " + ---------- + 100 lbs. + + No. 2. + + Nitrates 5 lbs. + Carbonates 10 " + Phosphate 1 " + Water 84 " + -------- + 100 lbs. + + No. 3. + + Water 85.0 lbs. + Sugar 7.6 " + Acid 1.0 " + Albuminous substances .22 " + Insoluble matter 1.83 " + Pectous Substances 3.88 " + Ash .47 " + ---------- + 100 lbs. + + +WEIGHT OF APPLES. + +Thirty-three hundred three-bushel barrels were weighed. The average net +weight, barrel not included, was: Ben Davis, 134 pounds, or 44-2/3 +pounds per bushel; Missouri Pippin, 136-2/3 pounds, or 45-5/9 pounds per +bushel; Winesap, 144-3/4 pounds, or 48-1/4 pounds per bushel. Apples +vary in weight in different seasons. Jonathans weighed in quantity three +seasons give 134, 136 and 140 pounds per barrel, averaging 45-5/9 pounds +per barrel. These weights are all net; they do not include the weight of +the barrel. + + +TIME OF BLOOMING IN LEAVENWORTH COUNTY. + +Observations taken through a period of eight years--1890 to 1897--show +the Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, Winesap and Ben Davis in full bloom on +April 25, 29, 30, 20, 22, 20, 22, 26. + + +SOME APPLE-PRODUCING STATES. + +Quantity of apples grown in 1889 in states having more than Kansas, +taken from the United States census of 1890: + + 1. Ohio 13,789,278 bus. + 2. Michigan 13,154,626 " + 3. Kentucky 10,679,389 " + 4. Illinois 9,600,785 " + 5. Indiana 8,784,038 " + 6. Missouri 8,698,170 " + 7. New York 8,493,846 " + 8. Virginia 8,391,425 " + 9. North Carolina 7,591,541 " + 10. Pennsylvania 7,552,710 " + 11. Tennessee 7,283,945 " + 12. Iowa 5,040,352 " + 13. West Virginia 4,439,978 " + 14. Kansas 3,713,019 " + + +AMERICAN APPLES ABROAD. + +Furnished by Walter Wellhouse, through courtesy of Simons, Shuttleworth +& Co., Liverpool. + + ========================================================================= + | Ports of Export. + | Figures given represent barrels. + Date. +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- + | | | | | | Phila-| | + | New | | Mont- | Port- | Balti-| del- | Hali- | St. + | York. |Boston.| real. | land. | more. | phia. | fax. | Johns. + ---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- + =1897.= | | | | | | | | + Aug. 7 | 201| | | | | | | + " 14 | 232| | | | | | | + " 21 | 829| | | | | | | + " 28 | 986| 30| 592| | | | | + Sept. 4 | 2,178| 653| 793| | | | | + " 11 | 6,608| 897| 2,470| | | | | + " 18 | 7,873| 908| 6,178| | | | | + " 25 | 9,435| 1,622| 9,623| | | | 2,106| + Oct. 2 | 10,448| 1,849| 9,306| | | | 7,000| + " 9 | 16,233| 3,823| 8,279| | | | | + " 16 | 18,193| 7,738| 8,285| | | | 3,218| + " 23 | 24,930| 15,212| 8,450| | | | 9,146| + " 30 | 24,237| 19,660| 16,806| | | | 5,410| + Nov. 6 | 22,469| 19,237| 31,811| | | 390| 4,216| + " 13 | 15,747| 16,201| 20,816| | | | | + " 20 | 27,219| 9,526| 31,441| | | 363| 5,000| + " 27 | 18,261| 8,152| 8,463| 9,431| | 1,045| 1,285| + Dec. 4 | 15,649| 8,449| | 6,889| | 200| 5,610| + " 11 | 11,231| 6,799| | 6,605| | | 718| + " 18 | 5,706| 3,244| | 300| | | 330| + " 25 | 6,588| 1,939| | 3,735| | | | + =1898.= | | | | | | | | + Jan. 1 | 4,349| 3,521| | 7,469| | | | + " 8 | 8,749| 3,643| | 13,775| | | 7,000| + " 15 | 11,158| 5,587| | 9,920| | | 8,500| + " 22 | 8,265| 4,756| | 10,979| | | | + " 29 | 10,979| 4,376| | 5,634| | 480| 952| + Feb. 5 | 3,463| 3,997| | 7,950| | 200| 3,046| 1,012 + " 12 | 6,689| 2,407| | 7,687| 55| | | 1,523 + " 19 | 4,187| 5,060| | 6,005| | | 2,740| + " 26 | 6,613| 2,293| | 4,704| | 350| 2,108| 1,500 + Mar. 5 | 4,886| 677| | 6,832| | | | + " 12 | 6,005| 2,375| | 4,963| | 230| 2,702| + " 19 | 6,497| 1,048| | 6,294| | | | 135 + " 26 | 7,730| 4,368| | 299| | | | + Apr. 2 | 7,142| 2,921| | 4,296| | | | + " 9 | 6,863| 2,163| | 2,077| | 685| 4,999| + " 16 | 5,783| 293| | 1,258| | | | + " 23 | 3,093| 379| | | | | 682| + " 30 | 1,190| 519| | | | | 1,270| + May 7 | 1,500| | | | | | | + June 11 | 1,500| | | | | | | + +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- + Totals |361,894|176,322|163,313|126,261| 55| 3,943| 78,038| 4,170 + ---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- + + +THE APPLE BUSINESS. + +By J. G. THOMPSON, of Edwardsville, Kan. + +Often the title of a book or essay gives little information as to what +will follow, and under "The Apple Business" there are a variety of +subjects, on any one of which an essay might be written. In this short +paper I shall speak of our foreign markets. A Kansas apple in London is +a long way from home. But it is there, and not at all disconcerted by +its strange surroundings. What is our apple doing there? Was it imported +as a curiosity? Is it there as evidence of some venture or speculation? +Neither; it has passed the experimental stage and is on a perfectly +legitimate errand. It has gone over for English gold and will send the +same back to its Kansas home. Now comes the interesting part, which +makes business of the transaction. If profitable, it means prosperity; +and a wave of prosperity is what the whole country needs, and when the +wave comes there will be a lot of folks who will want to make the +inundation permanent. Apples, on arriving in London or Liverpool, are +sold at auction on the docks, immediately on arrival, usually in +twenty-barrel lots. Of each lot two barrels are opened, one is poured +out on a table, and one has the head removed so that the faced end may +be seen. This is called a "show," and in the account of sales the +"shows" are charged for at the rate of one shilling each. + + AMERICAN APPLES ABROAD. + + European receivers of American apples, represented by Chas. + Forster, 76-78 Park Place, N. Y. + ================================================================= + | Ports of Import. | + | Figures given represent barrels. | + Date. |----------------------------------------------| Total. + |Liverpool.| London.|Glasgow.|Hamburg.|Various.| + --------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------- + =1897.= | | | | | | + Aug. 7 | 168 | | 33 | | | 201 + " 14 | 185 | | 47 | | | 232 + " 21 | 455 | | 374 | | | 829 + " 28 | 1,113 | | 495 | | | 1,608 + Sept. 4 | 3,044 | | 580 | | | 3,624 + " 11 | 7,605 | | 2,370 | | | 9,975 + " 18 | 10,933 | 70 | 3,813 | | 143 | 14,959 + " 25 | 12,960 | 2,494 | 6,425 | 657 | 250 | 22,786 + Oct. 2 | 13,286 | 7,774 | 5,167 | 1,804 | 572 | 28,603 + " 9 | 16,325 | 11,252 | 6,499 | 3,747 | 512 | 28,335 + " 16 | 20,530 | 5,461 | 7,473 | 3,648 | 322 | 37,434 + " 23 | 29,381 | 13,047 | 8,709 | 6,391 | 210 | 57,738 + " 30 | 26,641 | 16,055 | 14,619 | 8,432 | 366 | 66,113 + Nov. 6 | 39,615 | 9,449 | 18,897 | 8,371 | 1,791 | 78,123 + " 13 | 33,631 | 4,338 | 7,579 | 6,650 | 566 | 52,764 + " 20 | 29,167 | 11,226 | 18,288 | 13,755 | 1,113 | 73,549 + " 27 | 26,308 | 7,169 | 3,588 | 7,686 | 1,886 | 46,637 + Dec. 4 | 18,091 | 8,724 | 3,154 | 6,597 | 231 | 36,797 + " 11 | 14,050 | 2,469 | 4,766 | 3,829 | 239 | 25,353 + " 18 | 4,613 | 2,794 | 211 | 1,475 | 487 | 9,580 + " 25 | 7,468 | 2,733 | 1,106 | 616 | 339 | 12,262 + =1898.= | | | | | | + Jan. 1 | 11,949 | 2,196 | | 617 | 577 | 15,339 + " 8 | 19,486 | 9,428 | 709 | 2,644 | 900 | 33,167 + " 15 | 17,747 | 11,952 | 1,450 | 4,011 | 5 | 35,165 + " 22 | 16,332 | 4,885 | | 1,316 | 567 | 23,100 + " 29 | 11,974 | 5,174 | 1,539 | 3,601 | 142 | 22,430 + Feb. 5 | 3,546 | 4,987 | 417 | | 718 | 19,668 + " 12 | 12,584 | 3,709 | 1,101 | 673 | 294 | 18,361 + " 19 | 12,320 | 5,160 | 521 | | 41 | 18,042 + " 25 | 10,234 | 4,656 | 1,353 | 1,325 | | 17,568 + Mar. 5 | 8,431 | 3,284 | 100 | 505 | 75 | 12,395 + " 12 | 9,192 | 6,389 | 424 | 270 | | 16,275 + " 19 | 8,671 | 5,026 | 117 | 160 | | 13,974 + " 26 | 7,747 | 4,078 | 381 | | 191 | 12,397 + April 2 | 9,788 | 4,187 | 271 | | 113 | 14,359 + " 9 | 6,917 | 8,493 | 1,192 | | 185 | 16,787 + " 16 | 5,049 | 2,091 | 60 | | 134 | 7,334 + " 23 | 2,059 | 2,095 | | | | 4,154 + " 30 | 543 | 2,436 | | | | 2,979 + May 7 | 1,500 | | | | | 1,500 + June 11 | 1,500 | | | | | 1,500 + |----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------- + Totals | 490,138 |198,281 |123,828 | 88,780 | 12,969 | 913,996 + ----------------------------------------------------------------- + +I have just received the apple catalogue of Woodall & Co., of Liverpool, +England, giving a list of sales made by them of 2451 barrels of American +apples, from the 3d to the 10th of this month [December, 1897]. This +catalogue gives the mark, brand or owner's name on barrel, the name of +the variety, condition of fruit, and whether tight or loose in the +barrel, the name of the vessel on which the fruit arrived, the point +from which it was shipped, and the gross proceeds of the sales of these +2451 barrels--1047 were from Canada and 1404 from the United States. +Last year I sold for export 1000 barrels of apples. The buyer told me it +was very difficult to carry barreled apples across the water in good +condition. And that, owing to the peculiar motion of the ship, apples +which were tight when loaded would be loose and bruised on arrival at +Liverpool. You may judge of the correctness of this statement when I +tell you that, in the account of sales of 153 barrels, 142 are reported +as loose and 11 tight. They are not all that bad, for further on 212 +are reported as 171 tight and 41 loose. Apples when loose lose from $1 +to $1.75 in value; a lot of 12--8 Winesap and 4 York Imperial, +loose--were sold for 15s. 3d. or $3.80 per barrel; 43 Winesaps, loose, +brought 14s. 9d. or $3.68. Newtown Pippins bring the highest price, +ranging from $5 to $9 per barrel. + +The apples are mostly from Canada and New York, the varieties being +principally Newtown Pippin, Baldwin, Greening, and [Northern] Spy; still +I find in the list such familiar names as Ben Davis, Genet, and Winesap. +On inquiry, I find the freight from Kansas City to New York is 63-1/2 +cents, and from New York across the water, seventy-five cents per +barrel. A report of sales would read something like this: One barrel Ben +Davis, $3.80; freight, $1.35; commission, 20 cents; net proceeds, $2.25. +This is supposing they should reach the other side loose. If, owing to +superior skill in packing, they should reach their destination tight, +the net proceeds would be $3 or $3.25. The Liverpool quotation on +western Ben Davis, December 11, is $4 to $5 for tight; $3.50 to $4.38 +for loose. I speak of one firm only; many others are in the same line. + + COMPARISON OF SEASONS, 1881 TO 1898. + ======================================================================== + | Ports of Export. + | Figures represent barrels. + |--------------------------------------------------------------- + Date. | New | | Mont- | Port- |Halifax|Phil-|Bal- |Anna- + | York. | Boston. | real. | land. |and St.|adel-|ti- | pol- + | | | | |Johns. |phia.|more.| is. + --------+---------+---------+--------+-------+-------+-----+-----+------ + 1880-81 | 599,200| 510,300| 145,276| 39,908| 24,250|9,872| | + 1881-82 | 75,889| 65,093| 56,433| 6,497| 13,805| | |21,535 + 1882-83 | 169,570| 102,409| 64,390| 16,890| 18,542|3,900| |19,893 + 1883-84 | 53,048| 7,145| 7,445| 9,811| 3,758| 325| | + 1884-85 | 256,314| 307,130| 84,487| 71,460| 41,207| | | 8,612 + 1885-86 | 466,203| 221,724| 68,716| 87,301| 37,982| 186| | 3,161 + 1886-87 | 175,595| 303,479| 106,713|100,569| 94,606| | |26,965 + 1887-88 | 275,696| 163,916| 93,058| 25,215| 32,652| | |17,884 + 1888-89 | 474,337| 382,199| 291,307|145,825| 94,691| 860| |18,190 + 1889-90 | 169,557| 132,589| 162,526|122,433| 53,627| | |37,030 + 1890-91 | 76,503| 23,123| 182,095| 80,365| 89,190| | | + 1891-92 | 537,247| 339,964| 320,457|163,145| 87,379| 550| 72| + 1892-93 | 218,037| 204,138| 429,243|235,395|116,725| | | + 1893-94 | 29,396| 4,796| 56,255| 49,344| 35,058| | | + 1894-95 | 221,398| 523,123| 273,353|155,878|264,410| | | + 1895-96{| 230,705| 84,771| 128,027|141,955|165,797| | | + {|[A]13,610| |[A]1,861| | | | | + 1896-97 | 570,327|1,015,029| 700,274|221,350|409,733|3,133| | + 1897-98 | 361,894| 176,322| 163,313|126,261| 82,208|3,943| 55| + + Additionally in 1891-92, 1,337 barrels were exported from Newport News, + and 215 from Norfolk. + + --------------------------------------------------------------------------- + | Ports of Import. + | Figures represent barrels. + Date. |------------------------------------------------------------ + |Liverpool.| London. | Glasgow.|Hamburg.| Various.| Total. + --------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+---------+---------- + 1880-81 | 839,444 | 177,936 | 216,391 | | 95,036 | 1,328,806 + 1881-82 | 133,784 | 46,147 | 59,266 | | 55 | 239,252 + 1882-83 | 253,432 | 46,975 | 81,269 | | 13,318 | 395,594 + 1883-84 | 46,661 | 4,843 | 29,685 | | 343 | 81,532 + 1884-85 | 491,898 | 123,081 | 137,631 | | 16,590 | 769,210 + 1885-86 | 537,695 | 147,102 | 176,445 | | 24,031 | 885,273 + 1886-87 | 468,553 | 187,840 | 138,756 | | 12,775 | 807,924 + 1887-88 | 346,557 | 104,072 | 139,517 | | 18,275 | 608,421 + 1888-89 | 790,502 | 279,374 | 272,068 | | 64,465 | 1,407,409 + 1889-90 | 418,850 | 128,248 | 116,449 | | 14,115 | 677,762 + 1890-91 | 252,548 | 116,705 | 80,772 | | 1,260 | 451,285 + 1891-92 | 917,535 | 224,356 | 282,553 | | 25,892 | 1,450,336 + 1892-93 | 798,291 | 174,405 | 220,790 | | 10,052 | 1,203,538 + 1893-94 | 101,205 | 32,581 | 38,524 | | 2,530 | 174,841 + 1894-95 | 853,198 | 388,535 | 173,312 | | 23,110 | 1,438,155 + 1895-96 {| 410,596 | 196,184 | 127,942 | | 16,533 | 751,255 + {|[A]11,342 |[A]2,458 |[A]1,771 | | | [A]15,471 + 1896-97 |1,581,560 | 716,771 | 411,575 | 117,105| 92,835 | 2,919,846 + 1897-98 | 490,138 | 198,281 | 123,828 | 88,780| 12,969 | 913,996 + --------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + [A] Boxes. + +During the week ending December 11, 1897, there were exported from the +United States to Europe 25,447 barrels of apples; of these, Liverpool +got 3335, London, 2580, Glasgow, 3567, Hamburg, 5264; equaling 14,756. +The total export to Europe this year from the United States, up to +December 11, is 586,906 barrels bringing this country over 1-1/2 million +dollars. Last year we had a much larger crop, and up to this date had +exported 2,087,573 barrels. Owing to the liability of getting loose in +the barrel some shippers use boxes. We packed, last fall, 1000 boxes of +Willow Twig and Ben Davis; these were packed in pear boxes, each apple +wrapped in paper; the boxes (filled) would weigh about forty pounds. The +apples are placed in layers six long by four wide and four layers deep, +ninety-six apples to the box, putting the finest apples on top. The +covers are put on with a lever press that presses on the ends of the +boards and springs both the bottom and top of the box; the extra size in +the middle is protected by cleats on the ends. The sides are of thicker +boards and do not spring. If the apples should shrink in size, as apples +do, the spring in the box will take up the slack. In loading on the car +or ship, the boxes are placed on their edges. One thousand boxes make a +good car-load, weighing about 40,000 pounds. A barrel will make about +4-1/2 boxes. These cases of selected apples are expected to sell readily +for eight shillings (or $2) per box, and packed in this careful manner +should go through in perfect condition. If they bring satisfactory +prices, I predict that next year more than one Kansas orchard will be +packing apples for foreign export. + + +A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE WELLHOUSE ORCHARDS. + +In 1876 Mr. F. Wellhouse planted, at Glenwood, Leavenworth county, +Kansas, 117 acres of apple trees, as follows: 60 acres of Ben Davis, 32 +of Missouri Pippin, and 25 of Winesap. This orchard yielded, in 1880, +1594 bushels of apples, which sold for $1.50 per barrel, or $797; and in +1881 it yielded 3887 bushels, which sold for $4 per barrel, or $5184. + +In 1878 he planted, near Gardner, Miami county, 160 acres, as follows: +80 acres of Ben Davis, 40 of Missouri Pippin, 30 of Winesap, and 8 of +Cooper's Early and 8 of Maiden's Blush. These two orchards, of 277 acres +combined, yielded, in 1882, 12,037 bushels, which sold for $2.48 per +barrel, or $9,950. + +In 1879 he planted, at Fairmount, Leavenworth county, 160 acres, as +follows: 80 acres of Ben Davis, 40 of Jonathan, 30 of Winesap, and 8 of +Cooper's Early and 8 of Maiden's Blush. + +These three orchards, of 437 acres combined, yielded as follows: + + 1883, 12,388 bushels, sold at $3.00 per barrel. + 1884, 11,726 " " 2.04 " + 1885, 15,373 " " 2.00 " + 1886, 34,909 " " 1.45 " + 1887, 33,790 " " 2.11 " + 1888, 20,054 " " 1.81 " + 1889, 11,952 " " 2.49 " + 1890, 79,170 " " 3.00 " + 1891, 63,698 " " 1.75 " + 1892, 978 bushels. + 1893, 900 " + 1894, 47,374 " sold at $2.50 per barrel. + 1895, 59,138 " + 1896, 784 " + 1897, 3,758 " + 1898, 3,639 " not sold yet. + +In 1889 he planted, near Wakarusa, Osage county, 800 acres, as follows: +300 acres of Ben Davis, 200 of Missouri Pippin, 160 of Jonathan, 75 of +York Imperial, and 65 of Gano. In 1895 this orchard yielded 3470 +bushels. + +In 1894 he planted, near Tonganoxie, Leavenworth county, 300 acres, as +follows: 100 acres of Ben Davis, 100 of Gano, 33 of Jonathan, 33 of York +Imperial, and 34 of Missouri Pippin. + +In 1895 he sold nearly 21,780 bushels, put in cold storage 9000 bushels, +and sent to dryer 26,600 bushels, making a total for 1895 of 57,380 +bushels. + +In 1896 he set out, near Summit, Leavenworth county, 140 acres, making a +total acreage of 620 acres of Ben Davis, 76 of Winesap, 409 of Missouri +Pippin, 190 of Jonathan, 150 of York Imperial, 160 of Gano, 16 of +Maiden's Blush, and 16 of Cooper's Early. + +During this time he sold thousands of bushels of "culls" that are not +counted in this statement, excepting in 1895. These culls sold, per +bushel, as follows: 1883, at 30 cents; 1884, at 15 cents; 1885, at 20 +cents; 1886, at 13 cents; 1887, at 27 cents; 1888, at 14 cents; 1889, at +18 cents; 1890, at 20 cents; 1891, at 15 cents; 1894, at 20 cents. + +For profit, Mr. Wellhouse puts the Jonathan first, Ben Davis second, +Missouri Pippin third, and Winesap fourth. He says Cooper's Early does +not pay him. + + +REVISED LIST OF APPLES + +Recommended for Kansas by the votes of the members of the State +Horticultural Society, at its annual meeting, December, 1896: + + _List of Winter Varieties._ + + Ben Davis 44 votes. + Winesap 42 " + Jonathan 41 " + Missouri Pippin 40 " + Gano 30 " + York Imperial 18 " + Genet 12 " + Smith's Cider 8 " + Maiden's Blush 5 " + Grimes's Golden 3 " + Willow Twig 3 " + Huntsman 2 votes. + Mammoth Black Twig 2 " + Early Harvest 2 " + Gilpin 1 " + Red Winter Pearmain 1 " + Salome 1 " + Rome Beauty 1 " + Ortley 1 " + Wagener 1 " + White Pippin 1 " + + _Summer and Fall Varieties._ + + Early Harvest 19 votes. + Red June 13 " + Maiden's Blush 12 " + Chenango 6 " + Yellow Transparent 5 " + Cooper's Early White 5 " + Duchess of Oldenburg 4 " + Red Astrachan 4 votes. + Golden Sweet 2 " + Keswick Codlin 2 " + American Summer Pearmain 2 " + Wealthy 2 " + Orange Pippin 2 " + Summer Swaar 1 " + + _Fall._ + + Maiden's Blush 20 votes. + Grimes Golden Pippin 13 " + Rambo 10 " + Jonathan 10 " + Pennsylvania Red Streak 3 " + Cooper's Early White 3 votes. + Lowell 3 " + Fameuse 3 " + Fall Wine 2 " + Jefferis 2 " + Hay's Wine 1 vote. + Summer Rambo 1 " + Munster 1 " + Fall Pippin 1 " + Northern Spy 1 " + Rome Beauty 1 vote. + Hubbardston's Nonsuch 1 " + Huntsman's Favorite 1 " + Sweet Russet 1 " + + _List for Family Orchard._ + + Jonathan 25 votes. + Winesap 24 " + Maiden's Blush 22 " + Early Harvest 21 " + Red June 15 " + Missouri Pippin 13 " + Grimes's Golden Pippin 13 " + Ben Davis 12 " + Rawle's Genet 12 " + York Imperial 11 " + Rambo 10 " + Chenango Strawberry 8 " + Cooper's Early White 8 " + Yellow Transparent 7 " + Jefferis 6 " + Huntsman's Favorite 5 " + Smith's Cider 4 " + Wealthy 4 " + Milam 3 " + Rome Beauty 3 " + Gano 3 " + Red Winter Pearmain 2 " + Willow Twig 2 " + Fameuse 2 " + Benoni 2 " + Fink 2 " + Duchess of Oldenburg 2 " + Gilpin 1 vote. + Golden Sweet 1 " + Fall Pippin 1 " + Newtown Pippin 1 " + Sweet June 1 " + Jersey Sweet 1 " + Lansingburg 1 " + Whitney No. 20 1 " + Red Astrachan 1 " + White Winter Pearmain 1 " + American Summer Pearmain 1 " + Minkler 1 " + Yellow Bellflower 1 " + Dominie 1 " + Sweet Rambo 1 " + Pennsylvania Red Streak 1 " + Stark 1 " + Lawver 1 " + Lowell 1 " + Fulton 1 " + Roman Stem 1 " + Red Winter Sweet 1 " + Primate 1 " + Klepsroth 1 " + Garretson's Early 1 " + Red Betigheimer 1 " + Wagener 1 " + + +DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES REFERRED TO IN THIS BOOK. + + +BEN DAVIS. + +_Synonyms_: New York Pippin, Victoria Pippin, Victoria Red, Red Pippin, +Kentucky Pippin, Baltimore Red, Baltimore Pippin, Baltimore Red Streak, +Carolina Red Streak, and Funkhouser. + +The origin of this apple is unknown. J. S. Downer, of Kentucky, writes +that old trees are there found from which suckers are taken in way of +propagating. The tree is very hardy, a free grower, with very dark +reddish brown, slightly grayish, young wood, forming an erect, round +head, bearing early and abundantly. In quality it is not first rate, but +from its early productiveness, habit of blooming late in the spring +after late frosts, good size, fair, even fruit, keeping and carrying +well, it is very popular in all the Southwest and West. Fruit medium to +large. Form roundish, truncated conical, often sides unequal. Color +yellowish, almost entirely overspread, splashed and striped with two +shades of red, and dotted sparsely with aureole dots. Stalk medium, +rather slender. Cavity narrow, deep, russeted. Calyx partially open. +Basin wide, abrupt, slightly corrugated. Flesh white, tender, moderately +juicy, pleasant, subacid. Core medium to large. Good to very good. +December to March. + +Remarks on the Ben Davis by members of the State Horticultural Society: + +E. J. Holman (Leavenworth county): I favor Ben Davis because of its +large size and good appearance; because it is long-lived, and attractive +in appearance in market; because it is an early bearer; and, to sum it +all up, because it is profitable to grow. + +J. W. Robison (Butler county): I favor Ben Davis because it is one of +the most hardy, even, regular bearers; because it succeeds on a great +variety of soils. It is handsome in appearance and attracts the eye in +every market. + +F. W. Dixon (Jackson county): I favor Ben Davis because it is the most +profitable variety. + +Phillip Lux (Shawnee county): It has a quality of sticking on until we +are ready to pick. It gives good returns for our investment. + +J. F. Maxey (Franklin county): I favor it because of its large size and +attractive appearance. + +G. L. Holsinger (Wyandotte county): I vote for it. + +G. W. Bailey (Sumner county): The Ben Davis has been the most profitable +with us. It is very attractive and popular, and a good seller. + +A member: On account of its large size, attractive appearance, and good +market qualities, I vote for it. + +B. F. Smith (Douglas county): I vote for it because it is the best +commercial apple we have and stands high in the European markets. It +sells for six dollars a barrel in Hamburg. + + +WINESAP. + +_Synonyms_: Winesop and Potpie Apple. + +This is not only a good apple for the table, but it is also one of the +very finest cider fruits, and its fruitfulness renders it a great +favorite with orchardists. The tree grows rather irregularly, and does +not form a handsome head, but it bears early, and the apples have the +good quality of hanging late upon the trees without injury, while the +tree thrives well on sandy, light soils. The tree is very hardy, and one +of the most profitable orchard varieties wherever grown. Young wood +reddish brown, with smooth red buds. Fruit of medium size, rather +roundish oblong. Skin smooth, of a fine dark red, with a few streaks, +and a little yellow ground appearing on the shady side. Stalk nearly an +inch long, slender, set in an irregular cavity. Calyx small, placed in a +regular basin, with fine plaits. Flesh yellow, firm, crisp, with a rich, +high flavor. Very good. November to May. + +Remarks on the Winesap by members of the State Horticultural Society: + +C. C. Cook (Wabaunsee county): I strongly favor the Winesap, preferring +it to any apple I grow. + +J. W. Robison (Butler county): The Winesap is desirable because of its +deep, rich color, its attractiveness, and high flavor. Its one principal +defect is over bearing. It is a good seller. + +E. J. Holman: The excellences of the Winesap consist in its color, its +flavor, and its keeping quality. I would not recommend it for a +commercial orchard. I recommend it for the family orchard only. + +W. G. Gano (Missouri): That is my view. I would not recommend it as a +commercial apple. The tree grows straggling, and is subject to insects, +and the winds affect them greatly, making them unprofitable in our +orchards. As a family apple, when grown to perfection, we can hardly +dispense with it. + +F. W. Dixon: The Winesap trees on my farm are twenty-five years old, and +last year yielded ten bushels of marketable apples [per tree], besides +culls. I would not recommend the Winesap as a commercial apple, as it is +usually small. + +Phillip Lux: I must say a good word for the Winesap. It has many traits +against it for profit; yet I would give it a place in the commercial +orchard. It falls early, and must be picked early; but if planted in +good, rich, black soil it will as a rule do well. It commands a good +price, and is a good apple for variety. We cannot make it a leader, but +should keep it among our commercial apples. + +James Sharp (Morris county): I consider it a good apple for my soil. It +is a good apple if planted in a cool and moist red clay. In this they +grow to a marketable size. + +G. L. Holsinger: I think I would not plant another Winesap, unless for +family use. I would place it fifth or sixth on the list. After one or +two good crops they generally play out. This year they were about the +size of crab-apples. + +J. W. Robison: The Winesap in Butler county is prone to spur blight. In +summer, when the hot sun comes, they dry up in clusters. As far south as +we are they are hardly profitable. Farther north they do better. In +Illinois, from one square of 200 trees (Winesaps) I gathered 3000 +bushels of apples, in 1871. + +G. W. Bailey: I know no better apple for family use. In our country, in +the low lands, they are fine, of fair size, producing well. While the +tree is young the fruit is fine; after it gets older it overbears, and +the fruit becomes small. I would not plant it for market. + +William Cutter (Geary county): I consider the Winesap good for family +orchards, but when old inclined to overbear, which enfeebles the tree. +While the tree is young it is among the best. It does not pay for +market. + +B. F. Smith: I would drop it from the commercial list. If I were to +plant 1000 trees I would plant only 200 Winesaps. I prefer the Ben +Davis, but we should not all grow the same apple. We want variety. + +William Cutter: Every one likes Winesaps, but we cannot grow them at +ordinary prices. + +George P. Whiteker (Shawnee county): I do not know a better apple. As +remarked, when the tree gets old the fruit runs down in size. It is very +deceiving. When it appears overloaded there are often not many on it. + +President Wellhouse: It has disappointed us every year. Some years they +are very full, but many go to the cull piles. I vote against the +Winesap. We have not planted any for ten years. Mr. Walter Wellhouse is +here. He can tell us about the Winesap. + +Walter Wellhouse (Shawnee county): My experience is that, like some +other apples, they will not grow in poor soils, but if the soil is +suitable they are profitable. + +Dr. G. Bohrer (Rice county): I have noticed it is not so much in the +quality of the soil as the quantity of moisture in it. Having trees on +high ground, I irrigated one of them, and it bore fine apples. In +Arkansas, where the land is too poor to raise corn the Winesap does +well; but it will not grow on high, dry soil. They must have more than +the ordinary amount of moisture. + +Secretary Barnes: T. W. Harrison, ex-mayor of Topeka, has Winesap apples +growing about seven miles southwest of the city that are phenomenal. +They are the largest I ever saw. They have been exhibited at our past +meetings, and people would hardly believe them Winesaps. He cannot +account for it; says it must be some kind of freak. I examined the trees +myself. They are well grown, on high, rolling prairie. I would recommend +those who desire Winesaps to get scions from Mr. Harrison. He has seven +or eight trees in his orchard, all in one row, far ahead of any Winesaps +I ever saw. + +Dr. G. Bohrer: Do you know whether there is a source of drainage to that +point? + +Secretary Barnes: I do not. The trees are probably eighteen years old, +and on rolling land. + +J. B. McAfee (Shawnee county): I have 145 Winesap trees in my orchard on +high ground. They do reasonably well, but are not as large as Mr. +Harrison's. + +Phillip Lux: Mr. Harrison's orchard lies on a southern slope. It is good +orchard land. The soil is very loose. His Missouri Pippins are as good +in proportion as his Winesaps. His apples are all good. + +J. F. Maxey: We have 300 or 400 acres in Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and +Janet. I would not discard the Winesap. + + +JONATHAN. + +_Synonyms_: King Philip and Philip Rick. + +The Jonathan is a very beautiful dessert apple, and its great beauty, +good flavor and productiveness in all soils unite to recommend it to +orchard planters. The original tree of this variety is growing on the +farm of Mr. Philip Rick, of Kingston, N. Y. It was first described by +the late Judge Buel, and named by him in compliment to Jonathan +Hasbrouck, Esq., of the same place, who made known the fruit to him. It +succeeds wherever grown, and proves one of the best in quality, and most +profitable either for table or market. The tree is hardy, moderately +vigorous, forming an upright, spreading, round head. Young shoots rather +slender, slightly pendulous, grayish brown. Fruit of medium size, +regularly formed, roundish conical, or tapering to the eye. Skin thin +and smooth, the ground clear light yellow, nearly covered by lively red +stripes, and deepening into brilliant or dark red in the sun. Stalk +three-fourths of an inch long, rather slender, inserted in a deep, +regular cavity. Calyx set in a deep, rather broad basin. Flesh white, +rarely a little pinkish, very tender and juicy, with a mild, sprightly, +vinous flavor. This fruit evidently belongs to the Spitzenburg class. +Best. November to March. + +Remarks on the Jonathan by members of the State Horticultural Society: + +Dr. G. Bohrer: Jonathan is probably the best apple I grow. They sell for +the highest price in the general market. They produce fewer culls than +other varieties. It is not a profuse bearer as far south as I am [Rice +county]. It ripens too early, and is affected by strong winds. + +E. J. Holman: The Jonathan is one of the most desirable all-around +apples, excellent as a dessert fruit, of a beautiful deep, bright color, +of good quality and strong constitution. It is often called a fall +apple, yet, if put in cold storage, it may be brought out even in June +in good condition. I place it third as a commercial fruit. + +W. G. Gano: The Jonathan should be picked early and put in cold storage. +I would place it second as a commercial apple. + +W. J. Griffing (Riley county): We consider it about fourth on the list +as a commercial apple. + +J. B. McAfee: It is large, and about the second for profits in my +orchard, which has been planted twenty-seven years. + +F. W. Dixon: I would place the Jonathan about third as a commercial +apple. In our county it is longer lived than any other apple tree and +freer from insects. + +James Sharp: Its only objection is its inclination to fall. I suppose, +if picked early and put in cold storage, they may be as good, but do not +look as well. + +Walter Wellhouse: I think the demand for Jonathan is declining some +among large dealers. A few years ago they sold for an advance of from +fifty cents to one dollar per barrel. In Minneapolis and Chicago the +market still seems good for them; but if I were to plant now I would not +plant as many Jonathans as five or ten years ago. + +G. P. Whiteker: The Jonathan sells better in our market [Topeka] than +any other apple. They have a good reputation; none better. They must be +picked early. + +Phillip Lux: I would place it fifth commercially, it drops so early, +before coloring up; it stands more abuse than any other apple we have, +and, if gathered early, will keep even without cold storage until the +market improves. + +Dr. Q. Bohrer: I agree with Mr. Sharp. I think the farther west we go +the poorer the fruit gets. You have more rainfall in the eastern part of +the state. It is hardy, possibly hardier than Ben Davis, but it falls +early. It is much like Winesap, requiring more moisture than other +varieties. When not much exposed to winds it does well. Of late our +rainfall is not sufficient, and they are not doing so well, but since +trying irrigation they do better. + +William Cutter: I live too far west for the Jonathan. It will not stand +drought or wind. It ripens too early. It is a cold-storage apple. The +worst spur blight I ever saw was on them. + +B. F. Smith: It is a good wet-weather apple. If there is plenty of +moisture, they do fine. I gather them about the 10th of September, and +they keep until the next spring. I tried to see how long I could keep +them. They should be about third on the commercial list. + + +MISSOURI PIPPIN. + +_Synonym_: Missouri Keeper. + +It is said to have originated in the orchard of Brink Hornsby, Johnson +county, Missouri. Tree hardy, a strong, upright, rather spreading +grower, an early and abundant annual bearer. Fruit medium to large, +roundish oblate, slightly oblique, somewhat flattened at the ends; skin +pale, whitish yellow, shaded, striped and splashed with light and dark +red, often quite dark in the sun, having many large and small light and +gray dots; stalk short, small; cavity large, deep; calyx closed, or half +open; basin rather abrupt, deep, slightly corrugated; flesh whitish, a +little coarse, crisp or breaking, moderately juicy, subacid; good; core +small. January to April. + +Remarks on the Missouri Pippin by members of the State Horticultural +Society: + +C. C. Cook: I am a warm friend of the Missouri Pippin, and vote it +second. It is a short-lived tree, but brings paying returns for expense +and trouble. It has a fairly good flavor. + +J. W. Robison: The Missouri Pippin is a young and profuse bearer, and +quite hardy with me. I should place it second on the list. + +E. J. Holman: I have eliminated it from my family orchard, and give it +only standing-room as a commercial fruit, and there rate it second [in +quality]. There can be more money made from it in a few years than from +any apple we have. It is the youngest bearing tree we have. It grows to +a good size, and by some is preferred to Ben Davis. The great merit of +this apple is in its youthful productiveness, good color, and marketable +quality. + +W. G. Gano: I do not approve of planting it thickly, intending to let it +remain. It is apt to overbear, break in pieces, and become almost +worthless. With proper care and thinning when too thick we can partially +overcome this. + +W. J. Griffing: It is my second best apple. I consider the Winesap the +best, as it has paid me the best, and I am planting for winter profit +only these two. All apple trees die young with us. + +F. W. Dixon: I can add nothing new, but place it second on the list. + +James Sharp: It has been my most profitable variety. About four-fifths +have been marketable. As to dying young, I would rather grow new ones. + +President Wellhouse: We will have to stick to it awhile yet in Kansas. +When of good size they command a price in advance of the Ben Davis. + +G. P. Whiteker: It gives good satisfaction as a commercial apple. It +bears young; and you can get good returns for eight or ten years, and +then put out a new orchard. + +Phillip Lux: I would place the Missouri Pippin second on the commercial +list. + +William Cutter: It is the youngest to bear. It is a Western apple. Other +varieties gradually die out, but it sticks. The farther west you go the +better it is. It stands drought and wind best of all. While it breaks +off on the top, it is not a short-lived tree. + +B. F. Smith: I would place it second on the commercial list. + + +GANO. + +Origin, Howard county, Missouri. Tree very hardy; has never been injured +by the cold winters; bears very young, roots readily from its own stock, +and can almost be grown from a cutting. Fruit bright red on yellow +ground, no stripes; large, oblong, tapering to the eye; surface smooth, +takes a very high polish, making it valuable as a stand fruit, thought +by many to surpass the Ben Davis. Minute dots; basin shallow, sometimes +deep; stem medium to long; flesh white, fine grained, tender, mild, +pleasant subacid. An early, annual and prolific bearer. December to May. + +Remarks on the Gano by members of the State Horticultural Society: + +W. G. Gano: I cannot be against my namesake. I have found nothing yet +that excels the parent trees. The Gano is creating a sensation, more +especially in the southern part of Missouri. They prefer it to Ben +Davis, and, where extensively planted and in bearing, it is creating a +sensation. While I have no interest in it, other than the name, still I +think we have in the Gano something that will stay. It is much like Ben +Davis. + +E. J. Holman: I would class it and the Ben Davis as twins. + +James Sharp: I planted about 700 trees of it five years ago. This year I +raised five apples. Two of these could not be told from Ben Davis. One +looked like Jonathan. + +William Cutter: I class it with Ben Davis. It differs little except in +color. Trees are alike, but I think it a younger bearer. I got my grafts +from Lee's Summit, Mo., paying five dollars per 100 for them. One tree I +gave to a friend was this year a wonder to all who saw it. + +President Wellhouse: We have seventy or eighty acres in Gano, planted +five or six years ago. While the tree is much like Ben Davis, I can +distinguish a difference in the apples. If I pile both kinds together I +can see a difference; if I pick out a Gano and put it in the Ben Davis +pile, neither I nor any other man on earth can tell it from the Ben +Davis. I do not know whether it is distinct from the Ben Davis or not. +If it is Ben Davis, it is all right. I hope it is distinct, but have so +far been unable to settle the question. + +W. G. Gano: We originally found only one tree in an orchard in Pratt +county, Missouri, and in the same orchard there were plenty of Ben Davis +trees. There may have been a mix-up of these varieties, but you will not +be disappointed if you get the Gano. + +President Wellhouse: Before planting, I went to Lee's Summit for three +or four years in succession and examined the original trees, to see +whether we ought to plant any; we concluded to plant, for if they were +not a new apple they would be the Ben Davis anyhow. We may have obtained +Ben Davis trees. + +Mrs. A. Z. Moore: My husband handles many of them on commission, and +favors them both in the orchard and in the market. He says they are +known as Jonathan, not as Gano, and while you may not distinguish them +in a pile of Ben Davis, you will know the difference if you put your +teeth into them. + + +YORK IMPERIAL. + +_Synonym_: Johnson's Fine Winter. + +Origin thought to be York county, Pennsylvania. Tree moderately +vigorous, productive. Young wood rich brown, downy. Fruit medium, oblate +oblique, whitish, shaded with crimson in the sun, thinly sprinkled with +light and gray dots. Stalk short. Calyx closed, or partially open. Basin +large, deep. Flesh yellowish, firm, crisp, juicy, pleasant, mild +subacid. Good to very good. Core compact, small. November to February. + +Remarks on the York Imperial by members of the State Horticultural +Society: + +C. C. Cook: I have planted heavily of York Imperial. They are not yet in +full bearing. They have given me good results. The trees are of large +size and the growth indicates that they will be strong bearers. They are +of rather a twig growth. I would put them about sixth on the commercial +list. + +E. J. Holman: The York Imperial is an old apple. It is new to many of us +because of its late sudden popularity. It has been sent to Europe, +holding its own with Missouri Pippin and others. It is large, a good +keeper, and growers always seem pleased with it. It seems to be growing +popular. + +James Sharp: I have about 500 or 600 trees I planted on the +recommendation of President Wellhouse, six years ago. This year they +produced about 100 bushels. I think they will be profitable. + +President Wellhouse: I saw a gentleman from St. Louis who gathered about +ten car-loads, and he was favorably impressed with it. We have many +trees bearing. It keeps well in cellars. + +Phillip Lux: I would place them third on the commercial list. + +William Cutter: Mine are just beginning to bear. It is not a youthful +bearer. I think it will be a popular apple. + +G. L. Holsinger: They commence to bear young. We have some that are +twenty-two years old. This year they were full. Like the Jonathan, they +mature too early and fall off. What I put in the cellar this year kept +well, very few rotting. + + +RAWLE'S JANET. + +_Synonyms_: Missouri Janet, Red Neverfail, Rawle's Jannet, Rawle's +Jannetting, Rawle's Genet, Rock Remain, Rock Rimmon, Yellow Janett, +Winter Jannetting, Jeniton, Jennett, Neverfail, Indiana Jannetting, and +Raul's Gennetting. + +Originated in Amherst county, Virginia, on the farm of Caleb Rawle. Tree +hardy, vigorous, spreading. It puts forth its leaves and blossoms much +later than other varieties in the spring, and consequently avoids +injury by late frost; it is, therefore, particularly valuable for the +South and Southwest, where it is much cultivated. Young wood clear +reddish brown; fruit rather large, oblate conic, yellowish, shaded with +red and striped with crimson; stalk short and thick, inserted in a +broad, open cavity; calyx partially open, set in a rather shallow basin; +flesh whitish yellow, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid; good to very +good; February to June. + +Remarks on the Rawle's Janet by members of the State Horticultural +Society: + +C. C. Cook: I have been acquainted with the Janet from boyhood, but I +have little, if any, use for them, because they overbear. It is a hard +tree for me to do anything with; cannot get them into shape--die quick. + +E. J. Holman: I would only recommend a tree or two of them for the +family orchard. It has had its day in the West, and is succeeded by more +profitable varieties. + +H. L. Ferris (Osage county): I would not plant them to sell. They are +too subject to diseases--bitter rot, etc. + +W. G. Gano: I think it could be discarded altogether. + +James Sharp: Will not pay for commercial orchard. + +G. P. Whiteker: Janets bring a good price. They are late keepers. We +kept ours this year until we began to pick apples the following fall. It +is not a good commercial apple. + +Phillip Lux: I would place it on the retired list. + +William Cutter: Only fit for family use. Trees overbear; fruit small. + +B. F. Smith: I would place it on the retired list. + + +SMITH'S CIDER. + +_Synonyms_: Smith's, Fuller, Pennsylvania Cider, Popular Bluff, and +Fowler. + +Origin, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. This apple is widely grown and much +esteemed as a profitable market sort. The tree is a very vigorous, +straggling, spreading grower, and productive. Young wood a rich, dark +brown. Fruit medium to large, roundish oblate conic, yellow, shaded and +striped with red, sparsely covered with gray dots. Stalk slender, of +medium length, inserted in a deep, rather narrow cavity. Calyx closed, +set in a broad, rather shallow basin. Flesh whitish, tender, juicy, +crisp, pleasant, mild subacid. Good December to March. + +Remarks on the Smith's Cider by members of the State Horticultural +Society: + +C. C. Cook: I planted Smith's Cider pretty heavily, and now regret it. +It blights badly, and the apples fall off. I intend to replace it with +York Imperial. + +E. J. Holman: It deserves a place in the family orchard, and a small +place in the commercial orchard. They are as large as Ben Davis, and as +great bearers, but they fall from the tree sooner. + +James Sharp: We had 500 Smith's Cider. Nearly all blighted and died; +have never paid me. + +G. Whiteker: It is a splendid apple, but blights; I think it will not be +profitable. + +B. F. Smith: We should not drop it from the list; it is a fairly good +apple. + + +MAIDEN'S BLUSH. + +A remarkably beautiful apple, a native of New Jersey, and first +described by Coxe. It begins to ripen about the 20th of August, and +continues until the last of October. It has all the beauty of color of +the pretty little Lady Apple, and is much cultivated and admired, both +for the table and for cooking. It is also very highly esteemed for +drying. This variety forms a handsome, rapid-growing tree, with a fine +spreading head, and bears large crops. It is very valuable as a +profitable market sort. Fruit of medium size, very regularly shaped, and +a little narrow towards the eye. Skin smooth, with a delicate waxen +appearance, pale lemon yellow in the shade, with a brilliant crimson +cheek next the sun, the two colors often joining in brilliant red. Stalk +short, planted in a rather wide, deep hollow. Basin moderately +depressed. Calyx closed. Flesh white, tender, sprightly, pleasant +subacid. Good. + +Remarks on the Maiden's Blush by the members of the State Horticultural +Society: + +C. C. Cook: It is all right to raise for a local market and for family +use. Hardy tree. I planted probably 100. I cannot determine where to +place it on the list. Probably others have had more experience with it +than I have. + +E. J. Holman: The Maiden's Blush deserves a place in both the family and +the commercial orchard. In its season it is unexcelled for market +purposes, and is especially attractive. I should recommend it as a +commercial apple. + +H. L. Ferris: I would place it first as a summer apple for local market. + +W. G. Gano: You certainly will not discard it. + +W. J. Griffing: It is about the earliest apple that will bear shipping +in summer, and very profitable. + +F. W. Dixon: I find it rather a shy bearer, but the tree is long-lived +and very hardy, and it deserves a place in the family orchard. I think +there is no profit in them for a commercial orchard. + +President Wellhouse: They are long-lived and very hardy; I would +recommend them for family, but not for commercial orchard. + +G. P. Whiteker: It comes at a time when there is much other fruit. I do +not think it pays very well. Mine turn brown from some cause. + +Phillip Lux: It is our very best apple in its season; while talking of +the commercial orchard, there is a demand for apples at all seasons of +the year, and if we discard this, we will have nothing at its season. I +would say, place it in the commercial orchard for export. + +W. J. Griffing: Do not know that it is profitable, but for quality the +Maiden's Blush is worthy of a place among fruits. + +G. W. Bailey: As a summer apple for family and commercial orchards, I +would place it at the head of the list. + +William Cutter: It is the best apple of its season for all purposes. + +B. F. Smith: It is the best commercial apple for summer trade we have. + +Secretary Barnes: At the late meeting of the Missouri Horticultural +Society, the secretary stated that he thought there was good money in +the Maiden's Blush. He said the trouble was, they were raised in too +limited quantities. He said they should be raised in car lots for +shipping to Northern cities; that they were quick growers and brought +ready money, and at their season had little competition in the market. +They come in when there are few apples obtainable, and he considers them +profitable. + +H. L. Ferris: In my experience it bears only every other year. Is that +the experience of others? + +President Wellhouse: The Maiden's Blush is the only summer apple that we +have made pay. + +J. W. Robison: We have not grown Maiden's Blush very largely here. It is +one of our old apples in Illinois, and it is the earliest, most regular +and profuse bearer, and the best keeper of its season to ship in hot +weather. It was named for its beauty, and is the most attractive apple +grown. They last well if kept moderately cool. They are shipped largely +in barrels, the earlier ones in boxes, from central Illinois north. The +tree is tender in unusually cold seasons. Farther south there is no +danger. I find it is a good apple to sell in a small way to grocerymen. + + +GRIMES'S GOLDEN PIPPIN. + +_Synonym_: Grimes's Golden. + +This valuable apple originated many years since on the farm of Thomas +Grimes, Brooke county, Virginia. In its native locality it is highly +prized for the peculiar hardihood of the tree, withstanding uninjured +the most severe winters, and never breaking in its limbs; also, for its +uniform regular annual productiveness. Tree vigorous, hardy, upright, +spreading, very productive; branches with peculiar knobs at the base of +each, connecting it with the main limbs. Young wood dark, dull red +brown, grayish. Fruit medium, roundish oblate, slightly conical. Skin +uneven. Color rich golden yellow, sprinkled moderately with small gray +and light dots. Stalk rather short and slender. Cavity rather deep, +sometimes slightly russeted. Calyx closed, or partially open. Basin +abrupt, uneven. Flesh yellow, compact, crisp, tender, juicy, rich, +sprightly, spicy subacid; peculiar aroma. Core rather small. Very good +to best. December to March. + +Remarks on the Grimes's Golden Pippen by members of the State +Horticultural Society: + +C. C. Cook: I have not tried to ship any Grimes's Golden. I would place +it about second on the list of summer [?] apples. With me it is a good, +thrifty, hardy tree, but my orchard is young. + +J. W. Robison: I have grown it extensively. It is one of the best fall +apples and one of the beauties. It does not keep well. It rots badly +after it is gathered and goes to market in rather bad shape. It is not +planted as much now as in the past. + +E. J. Holman: It stands in quality beside the Jonathan, and is a +first-class dessert apple. It is a good bearer and ought to be in every +family orchard, but I would not recommend it for the commercial orchard. + +H. L. Ferris: Mine bore very heavily and were large and fine. Sold well +locally; never shipped any; think they should come next to the Maiden's +Blush in the commercial orchard. + +W. G. Gano: The Grimes's Golden is the very best apple of its season. +Should be in all family orchards, and have a small place in commercial +orchards. + +J. B. McAfee: Like Mr. Gano, I consider it the very best apple that +grows, and one of the most profitable in my orchard. I find it +short-lived. I take best care of them for use of my family until about +the 1st of November. + +F. W. Dixon: It is the best apple for family use, but drops badly. The +tree is a good bearer but not long-lived. + +G. P. Whiteker: I plant Grimes's Golden and Maiden's Blush for profit. +The Grimes's Golden is handsome and brings a good price, especially at +this time of the year--December. + +Phillip Lux: I have had experience with it for years. In the family +orchard we cannot do without it. We aim to keep it for our family as +long as it lasts, say until February. In my opinion it is better than +any pear that grows in our state. We should handle them with care, as we +do pears. Put away carefully, in a cold, dry cellar, they retain their +flavor and keep well. I think them worthy of a place in the commercial +orchard. + +J. F. Maxey: I like to eat them; most of us do. There is a place for +them as a fancy apple. + +William Cutter: I consider it the best-flavored apple grown for family +use. Missouri and Arkansas have brought the big red apple into history, +but now the big yellow apple is preferred by many consumers. I consider +them extra fine. + +B. F. Smith: I pack mine in boxes as well as barrels. I consider them +fine. + +G. Y. Johnson (Douglas county): I find the tree is not as hardy as I +would like to have it. As far as the apple is concerned, it sells as +well as any. + + +HUNTSMAN'S FAVORITE. + +A seedling on the farm of John Huntsman, of Fayette, Mo. Tree vigorous, +not a very early bearer, but is very productive annually when the tree +has attained sufficient age; it is said to be a valuable and profitable +fruit in the locality where it originated. Young shoots smooth, reddish +brown; fruit large, oblate, slightly conic, often a little oblate; skin +smooth, pale yellow, sometimes a shade of pale red or deep yellow in the +sun, and a few scattering grayish dots; stalk short, small; cavity +broad, deep, sometimes slight russet; calyx closed, or nearly so; basin +large, deep, slightly corrugated; flesh pale yellow, a little coarse, +crisp, tender, juicy, mild, rich subacid, slightly aromatic; very good; +core rather small. December to March. + +Remarks on the Huntsman's Favorite by members of the State Horticultural +Society: + +William Cutter: The Huntsman is long-lived and deserves a place in our +list. + +E. J. Holman: The Huntsman is of the York Imperial order, an old +variety, not sufficiently known. In Kansas City, I saw them on sale at +six dollars per barrel. The tree is a good bearer, and will be planted +more than it has been; it never blights. + +B. F. Smith: I agree with Mr. Holman. + +W. G. Gano: It is a very desirable orchard tree; it is just wonderful +how our old orchards hold out; its quality and size are good. It has one +fault: if put in cold storage it bleaches out, as most yellow apples do. +I cannot keep yellow apples in cold storage, and the Huntsman has +disappointed me; but if taken out and sold when just right it is a +success, and sells in Kansas City at six dollars per barrel. + + +MAMMOTH BLACK TWIG. + +This apple originated with John Crawford, near Ray's Mills, Washington +county, Arkansas. It is conceded to be a seedling of the Black Twig +(said to be a misnomer for the Winesap). It has been exhibited as the +"Arkansaw." Mr. Crawford says he brought to Arkansas and planted seeds +of the Limber Twig and Black Twig over fifty-five years ago, and this +apple sprang from one of those seeds. Really an enlarged and improved +Winesap. Tree a fine, upright, spreading grower. + +Remarks on the Mammoth Black Twig by members of the State Horticultural +Society: + +William Cutter: My trees set fruit for three years, but it all dropped +off. + +President Wellhouse: Mr. Munger says his were very small this year, but +also that all his apples were small. + +G. W. Bailey: I have a few, planted eight years, but the fruit this year +was very small. + +E. J. Holman: Many Mammoth Black Twig trees have been extensively +propagated by nurserymen. We should know more about them. This variety +came before the public with a "hurrah," and people were told it was an +apple with the quality of Winesap and the vigor of Ben Davis. + +Mrs. A. Z. Moore (Missouri): My husband and I superintended sixty acres. +We grew 500 bushels of them, all very fine. Of the tree I know little, +but the apples were beautiful. They are of dark color and very handsome. + +B. F. Smith: Two years ago I was down the Port Arthur road, and saw +some, and they were fine-looking apples; but on testing it I thought +many others were better, though in the general trade I think it will do +well. We have a few trees and they are rapid growers, but I would not +recommend them for flavor. + +Mr. Adams: I can give you no particular information on this apple, but +believe in the right location it is as fine as any grown. Location has +much to do with its success. + +Walter Wellhouse: I examined some Mammoth Black Twigs in Leavenworth, +and they were of good size--as large as any Winesap I ever saw, and of +good color. + +L. D. Buck: It is a hardy grower. This year it is small. + + +PECK'S PLEASANT. + +_Synonym_: Waltz Apple. + +A first-rate fruit in all respects, belonging to the Newtown Pippin +class. It has long been cultivated in Rhode Island (where, we think, it +originated) and in the northern part of Connecticut, and deserves +extensive dissemination. It considerably resembles the Yellow Newtown +Pippin, with more tender flesh, and is scarcely inferior to it in +flavor. The tree is a moderate, upright, spreading grower, but bears +regularly and well, and the fruit commands a high price in the market. +The apples on the lower branches of old trees are flat, while those on +the upper branches are nearly conical. Young shoots reddish brown, +slightly downy. Fruit above medium size, roundish, a little ribbed, and +slightly flattened, with an indistinct furrow on one side. Skin smooth, +and, when first gathered, green, with a little dark red; but when ripe a +beautiful clear yellow, with bright blush on the sunny side and near the +stalk, marked with scattered gray dots. The stalk is peculiarly fleshy +and flattened, short, and sunk in a wide, rather wavy cavity. Calyx +woolly, sunk in a narrow, abruptly and pretty deeply sunk basin. Flesh +yellowish, fine grained, juicy, crisp and tender, with a delicious, high +aromatic, sprightly subacid. Very good or best. November to March. + +Remarks on Peck's Pleasant by members of the State Horticultural +Society: + +H. L. Ferris: We have a large number; while generally small, they can be +made larger by cultivation and care. They are the longest keepers I know +of, and carry well in shipping. + +William Cutter: I was well acquainted with it in Illinois. + +Secretary Barnes: About a year and a half ago, Governor Morrill said to +me, "Why don't you get your people to grow Peck's Pleasant? It is the +best apple grown." + +E. J. Holman: I have several trees, planted in 1870. They have been +light bearers. The apple is of high quality, and keeps until January. +The color is not so good as Huntsman. They die early. + +H. L. Ferris: I cannot agree to that. I never had one die. + +C. C. Cook: It is a good apple for home use; not very profitable. + +W. G. Gano: Good family apple; green; subacid; elegant in quality. + + +INGRAM. + +A new variety, grown from seed of Rawle's Janet, by Martin Ingram, of +Greene county, Missouri. Tree productive, and the fruit especially +valued for its long keeping. Fruit medium, or below, roundish oblate, +orange yellow, mostly overspread with broken stripes of rich, warm red, +gray russet dots, and slight marblings. Stalk slender. Calyx small. +Flesh yellowish white, moderately juicy, crisp, mild subacid. Core above +medium. Seeds dark brown. February to June. (Hort.) + +Remarks on the Ingram by members of the State Horticultural Society: + +Mrs. A. Z. Moore: I speak of this as the "coming apple" in southern +Missouri. They are not very large; beautiful in color; have a tendency +to overbear and grow in clusters. Must be picked by hand; is free from +common diseases. + +J. F. Maxey: I am greatly interested in it. Very late last spring, while +in Kansas City, I noticed a variety of apples that looked so fresh, with +stems as green as if just picked, in shape and color like large Janets. +They had come out of cold storage. I asked the name, and was told they +were Ingram. I was told they were grown in the vicinity of Garden City, +Kan. I wrote to Garden City, and received an answer from the grower, +saying this apple was well worthy of growing. + +Mrs. A. Z. Moore: I have seen it kept until the following August. + +G. P. Whiteker: I got twenty barrels of them from Mr. Rose in Kansas +City. I brought them here [Topeka] and retailed most of them, and got +six dollars per barrel for them. I do not think we found two bad apples +to the barrel. Most people thought them Janets. I believe it a +profitable tree to plant. + +B. F. Smith: In collecting apples in Douglas county for the World's +Fair, we could not tell them from the Janet, except in size. It is +beautifully streaked, and the grower called it a variety of the Janet. + + +LOWELL. + +_Synonyms_: Queen Anne, Tallow Apple, Michigan Golden, Golden Pippin of +some, Greasy Pippin, and Orange. + +Origin unknown. Tree hardy, vigorous, spreading, productive. Young wood +reddish brown. Fruit large, roundish, oval or conic, bright waxen +yellow, oily. Stalk of medium length. Cavity deep, uneven. Basin deep, +abrupt, and furrowed. Calyx closed. Flesh yellowish white, with a brisk, +rich, rather acid flavor. Good to very good. September, October. + +Remarks on the Lowell by members of the State Horticultural Society: + +J. B. McAfee: I have realized more from my Lowells than from any other +apple in my orchard. They are early and prolific. The Lowell has been +the best-paying and the easiest-selling apple in our market [Topeka]. + +Phillip Lux: I planted mine in 1870. They blight badly and the fruit is +often knotty. Have made no money from them. + +J. W. Robison: I grew it in Illinois. I planted it here in 1879 and +1880, and it paid there and here. It is a large, green, smooth apple, +and follows the Maiden's Blush closely. The tree did not blight with me +there or here. It is best cooked. It does not get mellow or soft. It is +an old variety and is falling out. + +E. J. Holman: This apple is all right in such a market as Topeka in its +season. It is not good to ship. Another apple we know little of is the +Orange Pippin. There is two or three dollars in it where there is one +dollar in the Maiden's Blush. It can be shipped to Liverpool and back in +good condition. No other will compare with it in productiveness. It +ought to be on our list. + + +CELESTIA. + +Originated with L. S. Mote, Miami county, Ohio. A new variety, of good +promise as an amateur sort. Fruit large, form roundish, conical, +slightly ribbed. Color pale yellow, moderately sprinkled with gray or +brown dots, and sometimes large dots of red. Stalk rather short and +slender. Cavity deep, uneven. Calyx closed. Segments long, slender, +partially recurved. Basin rather small, furrowed. Flesh yellowish, +crisp, tender, juicy, very pleasant, rich, mild subacid. Core rather +large. Very good. October. + + +MINKLER. + +_Synonym_: Brandywine. + +This is an old variety which was first exhibited before the Illinois +Horticultural Society, and, because it could not be identified, +received, for the time being, the name of its exhibitor. At some future +time it will probably be found identical with some variety long since +named and described. Tree an irregular grower; good bearer and keeper. +Fruit medium, roundish oblate, slightly conic, pale greenish yellow, +striped and splashed with two shades of red. Flesh yellowish, compact, +moderately juicy, mild, pleasant subacid. Good. Core small. January to +March. + + +KING OF TOMPKINS COUNTY. + +_Synonyms_: King, Tom's Red, Tommy Red. + +Origin uncertain; said to have originated with Thomas Thacher, Warren +county, New Jersey. A valuable market apple. Tree very vigorous, +spreading, abundant bearer annually. Young shoots very dark reddish +brown, quite downy, especially toward the ends. Fruit large, globular, +inclining to conic, sometimes oblate, angular. Color yellowish, mostly +shaded with red, striped and splashed with crimson. Stalk rather stout +and short, inserted in a large, somewhat irregular cavity. Calyx small +and closed, set in a medium, slightly corrugated basin. Flesh yellowish, +rather coarse, juicy, tender, with an exceedingly agreeable, rich, +vinous flavor, delightfully aromatic. Very good to best. December to +March. + + +SUMMER QUEEN. + +_Synonyms_: Sharpe's Early, Lancaster Queen, and Polecat. + +This variety forms a large tree with somewhat pendent boughs, and is a +profitable sort for orchards and marketing over a large territory. The +fruit is large and broad at the crown, tapering toward the eye. The +stalk is rather long, and is planted in a pretty deep cavity, sometimes +partially closed. Calyx but little sunk, in a narrow plaited basin. Skin +fine deep yellow in its ground, though well striped and clouded with +red. Flesh aromatic, yellow, rich, and of good flavor. August and +September. + + +LAWVER. + +Origin uncertain. Introduced by George S. Parks, of Parkville, Mo., and +said to have been found in an old Indian orchard in Kansas. Tree +vigorous, spreading, an early and annual bearer; a beautiful fruit and a +long keeper. Fruit large, roundish oblate. Color dark, bright red, +covered with small dots. Stalk medium. Cavity deep, regular. Calyx +small, closed. Basin medium, furrowed. Flesh white, firm, crisp, +sprightly, aromatic, mild subacid. January to May. (_Prairie Farmer._) + + +STARK. + +Origin unknown; grown in some parts of Ohio, and valued as a long keeper +and profitable market fruit. Tree vigorous, upright, spreading. Young +shoots dark brownish red. Fruit large, roundish, inclining to conic, +sometimes a little elongated, and sometimes slightly oblique. Skin +greenish yellow, shaded, splashed and striped with light and dark red +over nearly the whole surface, and thickly sprinkled with light and +brown dots, a portion of them aureole dots. Stalk short, rather stout, +inserted in a medium cavity. Calyx closed. Basin rather large, slightly +corrugated. Flesh yellowish, a little coarse, moderately juicy, mild +subacid. Good. Core small. January to May. + + +WHITE WINTER PEARMAIN. + +_Synonym_: Campbellite. + +Origin unknown; by some thought to be an old Eastern variety; highly +esteemed at the West. Tree spreading, hardy, and thrifty, a regular and +good bearer. Young shoots very short jointed, dull reddish brown, +slightly grayish or downy at the ends. Fruit medium or above, roundish +oblong conic, somewhat oblique. Stalk short, in a deep cavity. Calyx +nearly closed. Segments long. Basin uneven. Skin pale yellow, with a +slight blush or warm cheek, thickly sprinkled with minute brown dots. +Flesh yellowish, tender, crisp, juicy, very pleasant subacid. Very good. +January to April. + + +SMOKEHOUSE. + +_Synonyms_: Millcreek Vandevere, Red Vandevere, English Vandevere. + +Origin, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, near Millcreek, grown on the +farm of ---- Gibbons, near his smokehouse; hence its name. An old +variety, and popular in Pennsylvania. It somewhat resembles the old +Pennsylvania Vandevere, and is supposed to be a seedling of it. Tree +moderately vigorous, with a spreading head, a good bearer. Young wood +dark, dull reddish brown. Fruit rather above medium, roundish oblate, +skin yellow, shaded and splashed with crimson, and thickly sprinkled +with large gray and brown dots. Stalk rather long, curved, inserted in a +broad cavity. Calyx closed, set in a wide basin of moderate depth, +slightly corrugated. Flesh yellowish, somewhat firm, juicy, crisp, +rather rich subacid. Good. September to February. Valued for culinary +uses. + + +AUTUMN PEARMAIN. + +_Synonym_: Winter Pearmain. + +A slow-growing tree, but attains a large size. Branches slender, +spreading. Fruit of medium size, roundish, narrowing gradually toward +the eye. Color brownish yellow, mixed with green on the shaded side, but +next the sun reddish, blended with yellow, streaked with deeper red, and +sprinkled with numerous small brown specks. Stalk short, obliquely +planted under a fleshy lip. Calyx small, set in a broad shallow basin, +which is sometimes scarcely at all sunk, and obscurely plaited. Flesh +pale yellow, crisp, firm, a little dry, but rich and high flavored. Core +rather small. Quality very good. October to March. + + +CHENANGO (STRAWBERRY). + +_Synonyms_: Frank, Buckley, Sherwood's Favorite, Strawberry, Jackson +Apple, and Smyrna. + +Originated in the town of Lebanon, Madison county, New York. It is an +apple pleasant to the taste and much esteemed as a table fruit wherever +grown. Tree is vigorous, spreading. Young wood light reddish brown, +downy. Fruit medium, oblong conic or oblong truncated conic, +indistinctly ribbed. Color whitish, shaded, splashed and mottled with +light and dark crimson over most of the surface; light dots. Stalk +rather short, small. Cavity acute, somewhat uneven. Calyx closed, or +partially open. Segments erect. Basin rather large, abrupt, slightly +corrugated. Flesh white, tender, juicy, peculiar mild subacid. Core +rather large. Very good. September and October. + + +HAAS. + +_Synonyms_: Horse Apple, Summer Horse, Yellow Hoss, and Trippe's Horse. + +Origin supposed to be North Carolina. Tree vigorous, an annual, early +and abundant bearer, valuable for drying and culinary purposes. Young +wood light reddish brown. Fruit large, roundish, yellow, sometimes +tinged with red, and small patches of russet. Flesh yellow, rather firm +and coarse, tender, pleasant subacid. Good. Last of July and first of +August. + + +HAAS. + +_Synonym_: Ludwig. + +Originated on the land of ---- Ludwig, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and +considerably grown in its native locality. Fruit large, roundish, +slightly conical, whitish, splashed, mottled and shaded with light red; +many dots, with dark centers. Stalk short, slender. Cavity rather large, +a little greenish russet. Calyx closed. Basin slightly corrugated. Flesh +white, sometimes a little stained next the skin, fine grained, juicy, +mild subacid. Core rather small. Good to very good. November to March. + + +BAILEY'S SWEET. + +_Synonyms_: Edgerly's Sweet, Howard's Sweet, and Patterson's Sweet. + +Origin unknown; introduced by J. Edgerly, of Perry, Wyoming county, New +York. Tree hardy, vigorous, upright, spreading, productive. This variety +is regarded as profitable for all purposes, although perhaps a little +too tender skin for shipping long distances. Fruit large, form roundish +conical often approaching oblong, obscurely ribbed; color yellowish, +mostly shaded and obscurely striped with red, and thickly sprinkled with +minute dots. Stalk short and rather small, inserted in a narrow cavity. +Calyx small, closed, set in a narrow, irregular basin. Flesh white, +tender, not very juicy, almost melting, with a honeyed sweet flavor. +Core rather large. Very good. November to March. + + +SWEET JUNE. + +_Synonyms_: Summer Sweet and Hightop Sweet. + +Origin, Plymouth, Mass. An old variety, highly prized at the West. +Growth upright, vigorous. Tree hardy, very productive, light reddish +brown shoots. Fruit medium or below, roundish, regular. Skin very +smooth. Color light yellow, partially covered with green dots. Stalk +medium, inserted in a deep, narrow cavity, surrounded by thin russet. +Calyx small, closed. Basin shallow, slightly furrowed. Flesh yellowish, +very sweet, not very juicy, but pleasant and rich. Very good. August. + + +WEALTHY. + +Originated by Peter M. Gideon, near St. Paul, Minn., from seed gathered +in Maine about 1860. So far the tree has proved hardy, vigorous, and +healthy. Fruit medium, oblate or roundish oblate; whitish yellow ground, +shaded with deep, rich crimson in the sun, obscure broken stripes and +mottlings in the shade, sometimes entirely covered with crimson, many +light dots. Stalk short to medium, slender. Cavity green, russet. Calyx +partially closed. Basin deep, abrupt, uneven. Flesh white, fine grained, +stained with red, tender, juicy, lively, vinous subacid. Very good. Core +small. Season, December to February. + + +RED JUNE. + +_Synonyms_: Knight's Red June, Blush June, Georgia June, and Wilson's +June. + +Origin somewhat uncertain, supposed to be Carolina. Tree very vigorous, +upright, an early and abundant bearer, much esteemed at the South and +Southwest as their best early apple; ripe a few days after Early +Harvest; not equal to it in flavor, but more profitable as an orchard +fruit. Fruit medium or below, oval, irregular, inclined to conic. Skin +smooth, nearly the whole surface shaded with deep red, and almost of a +purplish hue on the sunny side, and covered with a light bloom. Stalk +variable in length, inserted in a small, narrow cavity. Calyx closed. +Segments long, reflexed. Basin narrow, plaited. Flesh very white, +tender, juicy, with a brisk subacid flavor. Core rather large. Very +good. + + NOTE.--Carolina Striped June (Carolina June). This is generally + confounded with the above, and is scarcely distinguishable, except + that, as it ripens, it becomes striped. One is doubtless a seedling + from the other. + + +BALDWIN. + +_Synonyms_: Woodpecker, Pecker, Steel's Red Winter, Red Baldwin, and +Butters. + +The Baldwin stands at the head of all New England apples, and is +unquestionably a first-rate fruit in all respects. It is a native of +Massachusetts, and is more largely cultivated for the Boston market than +any other sort. Tree vigorous, upright, spreading, productive. Young +shoots dull reddish brown. Fruit large, roundish, and narrowing a little +to the eye. Color yellow in the shade, but nearly covered and striped +with crimson, red, and orange in the sun, dotted with a few russet dots, +and with radiating streaks of russet about the stalk. Calyx closed, and +set in a rather narrow plaited basin. Stalk half to three-fourths of an +inch long, rather slender for so large a fruit, planted in an even, +moderately deep cavity. Flesh yellowish white, crisp, with that +agreeable mingling of the saccharine and acid which constitutes a rich, +high flavor. Very good. The tree is a vigorous, upright grower, and +bears most abundantly. Ripe from November to March, but with us it is +perfection in January. + + +GOLDEN SWEET. + +_Synonyms_: Orange Sweeting and Early Golden Sweet. + +A celebrated Connecticut fruit. Tree very vigorous, spreading, forming a +tree of moderate size, hardy and very productive. Young shoots reddish +brown. Fruit above the medium size, roundish, scarcely flattened, fair, +and well formed; when fully ripe, pale yellow or straw color. Stalk +about an inch long, slender at its junction with the fruit. Calyx +closed, and set in a basin of moderate depth. Flesh tender, sweet, rich, +and excellent. Good to very good. August and September. A valuable sort +for cooking, market, or stock feeding. + + +COOPER'S EARLY (WHITE). + +Grown in Illinois and other Western states, where it is regarded by many +as productive and profitable. Fruit medium, roundish, little flattened, +pale yellow with faint blush, tinge of green at the stem. Flesh white, +crisp, sprightly. September and October. (Elliott). + + +NORTHERN SPY. + +This beautiful American fruit is one of the most delicious, fragrant and +sprightly of all late dessert apples. It ripens in January, keeps until +June, and always commands the highest market price. The tree is of +rapid, upright growth, and bears moderate crops. It originated on the +farm of Herman Chapin, of East Bloomfield, near Rochester, N. Y. The +trees require high culture, and open heads to let in the sun; otherwise +the fruit is wanting in flavor, and apt to be imperfect and knotty. +Young shoots dark, reddish brown. The tree blooms late, often escaping +vernal frosts. Fruit large, roundish, oblate, conical. Skin thin, +smooth, in the shade greenish or pale yellow, in the sun covered with +light and dark stripes of purplish red, marked with a few pale dots, and +a thin white bloom. Stalk three-fourths of an inch long, rather slender, +planted in a very wide, deep cavity, sometimes marked with russet. Calyx +small, closed. Basin narrow, abrupt, furrowed. Flesh white, fine +grained, tender, slightly subacid, with a peculiarly fresh and delicious +flavor. Core large and open. Very good to best. December to June. + + +DUCHESS OF OLDENBURG. + +_Synonyms_: Smith's Beauty of Newark, Russian, Borovitsky, and New +Brunswick. + +This handsome Russian apple proves one of the most hardy and profitable +varieties in cultivation, especially in our northwestern sections. The +tree is vigorous, forming a roundish, upright, spreading head, requiring +little or no pruning, and producing abundantly a fruit of fair, even and +regular size, that, although not of the first quality, always commands a +ready sale, as it is valuable for market and cooking, and passably good +for dessert. Young shoots smooth, reddish. Fruit medium size, regularly +formed, roundish oblate. Skin smooth, finely washed and streaked with +red on a golden or yellow ground. Calyx pretty large and nearly closed, +set in a wide, even hollow. There is a faint blue bloom on this fruit. +The flesh is juicy, sprightly subacid. Ripens early in September. + + +EARLY HARVEST. + +_Synonyms_: Prince's Harvest, July Pippin, Yellow Harvest, Large White +Juneating, Tart Bough, Early French Reinette, and Sinclair's Yellow. + +An American apple; and taking into account its beauty, its excellent +qualities for the dessert and cooking, and its productiveness, we think +it the finest early apple yet known. It begins to ripen about the first +of July, and continues in use all that month. The smallest collection of +apples should comprise this and the Red Astrachan. Trees moderately +vigorous, upright, spreading. Young shoots reddish brown. Fruit medium +size. Form roundish, often roundish oblate, medium size. Skin very +smooth, with a few faint white dots, bright straw color when fully ripe. +Stalk half to three-fourths of an inch long, rather slender, inserted in +a hollow of moderate depth. Calyx set in a shallow basin. Flesh very +white, tender and juicy, crisp, with a rich, sprightly subacid flavor. +Very good to best. Core small. + + +TWENTY OUNCE. + +_Synonyms_: Morgan's Favorite, Eighteen Ounce Apple, Aurora, Coleman, +Cayuga Red Streak, Lima, and Wine of Connecticut. + +A very large and showy apple. It is a good, sprightly fruit, though not +very high flavored, but its remarkably handsome appearance and large +size render it one of the most popular fruits in the market. The tree is +thrifty, and makes a compact, neat head; bears regular crops, and the +fruit is always fair and handsome. Young wood rich, brownish red. Fruit +very large, roundish, slightly uneven, greenish yellow, boldly splashed +and marbled with stripes of purplish red. Stalk short, set in a wide, +deep cavity. Calyx small. Basin moderately deep. Flesh coarse grained, +sprightly, brisk subacid. Good to very good. October to January. + + +SWEET BOUGH. + +_Synonyms_: Large Yellow Bough, Early Sweet Bough, August Sweet, Sweet +Harvest, Bough, and Washington. + +A native apple, ripening in harvest time, and one of the first quality, +only second as a dessert fruit to the Early Harvest. It is not so much +esteemed for the kitchen as the latter, as it is too sweet for pies and +sauce, but it is generally much admired for the table, and is worthy of +a place in every collection. Fruit above the middle size, and oblong +ovate in form. Skin smooth, pale greenish yellow. Stalk rather long, and +the eye narrow and deep. Flesh white, very tender and crisp when fully +ripe, and with a rich, sweet, sprightly flavor. Ripens from the middle +of July to the 10th of August. Tree moderately vigorous, bears +abundantly, and forms a round head. Young shoots grayish brown, very +slightly downy. + + +PEWAUKEE. + +Raised from seed of Duchess of Oldenburg by George P. Pepper, of +Pewaukee, Wis., who sends us specimens, and writes that the tree is +strong and vigorous, center upright, very spreading, an annual bearer, +and one of the hardiest and best for the Northwest; young shoots dark, +brownish red. Fruit medium to large, roundish oblate, skin bright +yellow, striped, splashed and mottled with light and dark red over most +of the surface, covered with a thin greenish bloom, and many large and +small light dots, a few being aureole; stalk short, small; cavity small; +calyx closed; basin medium, slightly corrugated; flesh white, a little +coarse, breaking, half tender; juicy, subacid, slightly aromatic; good; +core small. January to May. + + +NELSON SWEET. + +Origin unknown. Fruit medium to large. Form roundish oblate, regular. +Color dull green, becoming yellow, sometimes bronzed with dull brown. +Stalk rather long, slender. Cavity medium, acute, regular, green. Calyx +medium, closed. Segments reflexed. Basin small, uneven. Flesh greenish +yellow, firm, fine grained, juicy, sweet. Core medium. Good. May to +July. (_American Journal of Horticulture._) + + +RED ASTRACHAN. + +_Synonyms_: Deterding's Early, Astrachan Rogue, Robert Astrakan, +Vermillion d'Ete, and Abe Lincoln. + +A fruit of extraordinary beauty, first imported into England, with the +White Astrachan, from Sweden, in 1816. It bears abundantly with us, and +its singular richness of color is heightened by an exquisite bloom on +the surface of the fruit, like that of the plum. It is one of the +handsomest dessert fruits, and its quality is good, but if not taken +from the trees as soon as ripe it is liable to become mealy. Tree a +vigorous grower, upright, spreading. An early and abundant bearer. Young +shoots clear, reddish brown. Fruit pretty large, rather above the middle +size, and very smooth and fair, roundish, a little narrowed toward the +eye. Skin almost entirely covered with deep crimson, with sometimes a +greenish yellow in the shade, and occasionally a little russet near the +stalk, and covered with a pale white bloom. Stalk rather short and +deeply inserted. Calyx partially closed, set in a slight basin, which is +sometimes a little irregular. Flesh quite white, crisp, moderately +juicy, with an agreeable, rich, acid flavor. Good to very good. Ripens +from last of July to middle of August. + + +BALTZBY. + +From Virginia. Tree spreading, productive. Fruit large, oblate, +yellowish white, with a faint blush. Dots scattered, small, white. Flesh +white, firm, somewhat tough, juicy, almost sweet. Good. October. + + +MOUNTAINEER. + +_Synonym_: Mountain Sweet. + +From Pennsylvania. Fruit large, oblate, light yellow. Dots minute. Calyx +small, closed. Stalk short, slender. Flesh white, breaking, very tender, +fine grained, juicy, sweet. Good to very good. December. (Warder.) + + +IMPERIAL. + +Of French origin. Fruit medium, oblate inclined to conic, yellow, +shaded, splashed and striped with light and dark red, deepest in the +sun. Stalk short. Calyx closed. Flesh white, crisp, tender, juicy, +refreshing subacid. Good. October and November. (Warder.) + + +FULTON STRAWBERRY. + +Originated with A. G. Downing, Canton, Fulton county, Illinois. Tree +vigorous, stout, spreading grower, hardy; does not come early into +bearing. Young wood grayish brown, slightly downy. Fruit medium, oblate, +whitish, mostly overspread, striped, splashed and mottled with shades of +red. Flesh whitish, tinged with pink, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good. +Core small. September. + + +ENGLISH SWEET. + +_Synonyms_: Ramsdell's Sweet, Ramsdell's Sweeting, Ramsdell's Red +Pumpkin Sweet, Avery Sweet, and Ramsdell's Red Winter. + +This old variety is esteemed where grown for the large crops which it +bears, and as a showy sweet apple for market, and profitable for stock +feeding, as well as superior for cooking. The tree is very vigorous, +grows remarkably straight and upright, comes early into bearing, and +yields enormously every year. Young shoots clear, reddish brown, +slightly grayish. Fruit rather above medium size, oblong, regularly +shaped, and tapering slightly towards the eye; dark red, dotted with +fawn-colored specks, and covered with a blue bloom. Flesh yellowish, +very tender and mellow, usually sweet and rich. Good to very good. In +weight the apple is light. October to February. + + +WHITE JUNEATING. + +_Synonyms_: Joanneting, Juniting, Gennetting, Primiting, May of +Virginia, Jennetting, Juneting, May Pippin, Caroline, Early May, Owen's +Golden Beauty, Juneating, Ginetting, Early Jennetting, Yellow May, +Carolina. + +This is an old variety, mentioned by Evelyn in 1660, and described by +Ray in 1688, and is a very tolerable little apple, ripening among the +very earliest, during the last of June and the first of July. It is very +distinct from the Early Harvest, sometimes called by this name. Tree a +moderate grower, and forms a roundish, upright, spreading head. +Productive. Fruit small, round, a little flattened. Calyx closed. Stalk +rather long and slender. Pale green at first, light yellow with +sometimes a faint blush on the sunny side. Flesh crisp and of a pleasant +flavor, but soon becomes dry. Good. + + +HUBBARDSTON NONSUCH. + +_Synonyms_: John May, Old Town Pippin, and Hubbardston. + +A fine, large, early winter fruit, which originated in the town of +Hubbardston, Mass. The tree is a vigorous grower, forming a handsome +branching head, and bears very large crops. Young shoots dull, grayish +brown, slightly downy. It is worthy of extensive orchard culture. Fruit +large, roundish oblong, much narrowed near the eye. Skin smooth, striped +with splashes and irregular broken stripes of pale and bright red, which +nearly cover a yellowish ground. Calyx open. Stalk short, in a russeted +hollow. Flesh yellow, juicy, and tender, with an agreeable mingling of +sweetness and acidity in its flavor. Very good to best. October to +January. + + +HOLLAND PIPPIN. + +_Synonyms_: Summer Pippin, Pie Apple. + +This and the Fall Pippin are frequently confounded together. They are +indeed of the same origin. One of the strongest points of difference +lies in their time of ripening. The Holland Pippin begins to fall from +the trees and is fit for pies about the middle of August, and from that +time to the first of November is one of the very best kitchen apples. +Fruit very large, roundish, a little more square in outline than the +Fall Pippin, and not so much flattened, though a good deal like it, a +little narrowed next the eye. Stalk half an inch long, thick, deeply +sunk. Calyx small, closed, moderately sunk in a slight plaited basin. +Skin greenish yellow or pale green, becoming pale yellow when fully +ripe, washed on one side with a little dull red or pale brown, with a +few scattered, large, greenish dots. Good. + + +YELLOW TRANSPARENT. + +A new Russian variety, which was imported from St. Petersburg in 1870 by +the department of agriculture, Washington, D. C., and promises to be +valuable for a cold climate as an early fruit of good quality, ripening +before the Tetofsky, with more tender and delicate flesh, but does not +continue long in use. It is said that the tree so far has proved to be +very hardy, moderately vigorous, upright, an early and good bearer +annually. Fruit medium, roundish, oblate, slightly conical, slightly +angular; skin clear white at first, becoming pale yellow when fully +mature, moderately sprinkled with light and greenish dots, somewhat +obscure. Stalk short to medium, rather slender; cavity rather large, +sometimes a little greenish; calyx closed; basin medium, slightly +corrugated, sometimes small protuberances; flesh white, half fine, +tender, juicy, sprightly subacid; quality good to very good. Core +medium. Season early in August, and a week or two before Tetofsky. + + +BENTLEY'S SWEET. + +Origin unknown. Supposed Virginia. Tree moderately vigorous, hardy, good +bearer and keeper, valuable in the Southwest in rich soils. Fruit +medium, roundish, flattened at ends, sometimes slightly oblique, and +sometimes sides unequal, pale yellowish green, shaded with pale red and, +moderately sprinkled with light and brown dots. Stalk long, slender, +curved. Cavity smooth, deep. Calyx large, closed, or partially open. +Segments medium length, erect, sometimes a little recurved. Basin large, +deep, corrugated. Flesh fine, whitish, compact, sweet, somewhat honeyed +flavor. Core small. Very good. January to May. + + +EARLY RIPE. + +Supposed origin, Pennsylvania, but unknown. Tree a free grower, and +productive. Fruit medium, roundish oblate, pale yellow, sprinkled with a +few gray dots. Stalk long, in a slightly russeted cavity. Calyx small, +closed. Flesh white, tender, juicy, subacid. Good. August. + + +DOCTOR WATSON. + +_Synonym_: Autumn Seek-no-farther. + +Origin unknown. A variety considerably grown in Indiana, where it is +much esteemed. Tree moderately vigorous, spreading, productive. Fruit +medium, oblate, sides sometimes unequal. Color greenish white, shaded +and splashed in the sun with dull crimson. Stalk of medium length. +Cavity broad, uneven. Calyx open. Basin large, rather deep. Flesh +whitish yellow, rather firm, juicy, rich subacid. Core medium. Very +good. September and October. + + +MUSTER. + +Origin unknown. Fruit oblate, yellow, mostly covered with mixed red and +splashes of crimson. Flesh yellow, fine grained, tender, juicy, subacid, +aromatic. Best. Core small. August and September. (Warder.) + + +WAGENER. + +Origin, Penn Yan, Yates county, New York. Tree thrifty, upright, hardy, +and early bearer. Requires thinning to produce good-flavored fruit. When +grown in the shade is wanting in flavor. Young wood light, reddish +brown, slightly downy. Buds prominent. Fruit medium or above, roundish +oblate, yellow, mostly shaded with crimson, obscurely striped, and +splashed with light dots. Stalk nearly an inch long, rather slender, +inserted in a large, broad, irregular cavity. Calyx small and closed, +set in a rather abrupt, somewhat corrugated basin. Flesh yellowish, very +tender, juicy, excellent, brisk, somewhat vinous. Very good to best. A +very delicate apple. Ripe November to February. + + +BROADWELL. + +_Synonym_: Broadwell Sweet. + +Originated with Jacob Broadwell, near Cincinnati, Ohio. An extremely +valuable sweet apple, either for the table or cooking. Tree vigorous, +quite hardy, very spreading, irregular, productive. Young shoots dull, +reddish brown, downy. Fruit medium, oblate, somewhat conic. Color clear, +bright yellow, brownish blush in the sun exposure, with carmine spots. +Dots few, greenish, suffused beneath. Stalk rather short. Cavity broad, +russeted. Calyx closed, with short segments. Basin regular. Flesh +whitish, firm, juicy, rich, sweet. Core small. Very good. November to +February. + + +SUPERB. + +Origin, Franklin county, North Carolina. Tree tolerably vigorous, +spreading, and a prodigious bearer. Fruit medium or above, roundish, +oblate, regular. Skin green, rarely with a blush. Stalk of medium +length, in a shallow cavity. Calyx large and open. Flesh yellow, solid, +slightly coarse grained, rich, subacid. Good to very good. November to +March. + + +RAMBO. + +_Synonyms_: Fall Romanite, Gray Romanite, Striped Rambo, Delaware, +Romanite, Seek-no-further, Bread and Cheese, Rambouillet, Trumpington, +Large Rambo, and Terry's Redstreak. + +The Rambo is one of the most popular autumn or early winter fruits. It +is a highly valuable apple for the table or kitchen, and the tree +thrives well on light, sandy soil, being a native of the banks of the +Delaware. The tree is of a vigorous, rather spreading habit, quite +productive. Fruit of medium size, flat, smooth, yellowish white in the +shade, streaked and marbled with pale yellow and red in the sun, and +speckled with large rough dots. Stalk long, rather slender, curved to +one side, and deeply planted in a smooth, funnel-like cavity. Calyx +closed, set in a broad basin, which is slightly plaited around it. Flesh +greenish white, very tender, rich, mild subacid. Very good. October to +December. There is claimed to be distinct or subvariety of this, called +Red Rambo, the fruit of which is more red; otherwise there is no +perceptible difference. + + +ROME BEAUTY. + +_Synonym_: Gillett's Seedling. + +Origin, southern Ohio. Tree a moderate grower; succeeds well at the +Southwest. Young wood clear, reddish brown, slightly downy or gray. A +late bloomer. Fruit large, roundish, approaching conic, yellow, shaded +and striped with bright red, and sprinkled with light dots. Stalk an +inch long, inserted in a large, deep cavity, surrounded by greenish +russet. Calyx partially closed, set in a narrow, deep basin. Flesh +yellowish, tender, juicy, sprightly, subacid. Good. Core rather large. +October to December. + + +ROMAN STEM. + +Originated at Burlington, N. J., and is much esteemed there. Tree very +productive, spreading, irregular. Fruit scarcely of medium size, +roundish, whitish yellow, with a faint brownish blush, sprinkled with +patches of dark russet, and, when ripe, having a few reddish specks, +unless the fruit is very fair. Stalk three-fourths of an inch long, +inserted in a shallow cavity under a fleshy protuberance. Calyx set in a +rather narrow basin, with a few plaits. Core hollow. Flesh tender, +juicy, with a rich, pleasant, musky flavor. Very good. November to +March. + + +SNOW. + +_Synonyms_: Fameuse and Snow Chimney. + +A very celebrated Canada fruit (probably an old French variety), which +has its name from the snow-white color of its flesh, or, as some say, +from the village from whence it was first taken to England. It is an +excellent, productive, autumn apple, and is especially valuable in +northern latitudes. Tree moderately vigorous, round-headed, hardy. Young +shoots reddish brown. Fruit of medium size, roundish, somewhat +flattened. Skin with a ground of pale, greenish yellow, mixed with faint +streaks of pale red on the shady side, but marked with blotches and +short stripes of darker red, and becoming a fine, deep red in the sun. +Stalk quite slender, half an inch long, planted in a narrow, +funnel-shaped cavity. Calyx small, and set in a shallow, rather narrow +basin. Flesh remarkably white, very tender, juicy, and with a slight +perfume. Very good. Ripe in October and November. A regular bearer and a +handsome dessert fruit. There is a variety under the name Striped +Fameuse, claimed to be distinct, the fruit being more striped and less +highly colored. + + +AUTUMN STRAWBERRY. + +_Synonym_: Late Strawberry. + +Origin, Aurora, N. Y., on lands formerly owned by Judge Phelps. Tree +vigorous, upright, spreading, hardy. Young wood smooth, reddish brown; a +regular and early bearer. Fruit medium, roundish, inclined to conic, +sometimes obscurely ribbed. Color whitish, striped and splashed with +light and dark red, and often covered with a thin bloom. Stalk rather +long, slender, curved. Cavity large, deep, slightly russeted. Basin +abrupt, corrugated. Flesh yellowish white, tender, juicy, pleasant, +vinous subacid. Very good. October to December. + + +GILPIN. + +_Synonyms_: Carthouse, Small Romanite, Gray Romanite, Roman Knight, +Romanite of the West, and Little Romanite. + +A handsome cider fruit, from Virginia, which is also a good table fruit +from February to May. A very hardy, vigorous and fruitful tree. Fruit of +medium size, roundish, oblong. Skin very smooth and handsome, richly +streaked with deep red and yellow. Stalk short, deeply inserted. Calyx +in a round, rather deep basin. Flesh yellow, firm, juicy, and rich, +becoming tender and sprightly in the spring. Good. + + +MILAM. + +_Synonyms_: Harrigan, Winter Pearmain, Blair, and Thomas. + +Origin uncertain; much grown in some sections of the West; very +productive, and keeps well. Fruit medium or below, roundish, greenish, +shaded and striped with red. Flesh rather firm, pleasant subacid, not +rich. Good. December to March. + + +LIMBER TWIG. + +_Synonym_: James River. + +An apple much cultivated South and West. Origin, supposed North +Carolina. Tree hardy and productive, roundish, spreading, somewhat +drooping. Fruit medium or above, roundish oblate, inclining to conic, +greenish yellow, shaded and striped with dull crimson, and sprinkled +with light dots. Stalk of medium length, inserted in a broad, deep +cavity, surrounded by thin, green russet. Calyx closed, set in a small, +uneven basin. Flesh whitish, not very tender, juicy, with a brisk, +subacid flavor. Good. January to April. + + +BENONI. + +This excellent early apple is a native of Dedham, Mass. The tree is of +vigorous, upright, spreading habit; hardy and productive; light, reddish +brown. It is a valuable variety for market or table use. Fruit rather +below medium size. Form roundish, oblate conical. Color pale yellow, +shaded, striped and marbled with dark crimson, and thinly sprinkled with +bright dots. Stalk short, slender. Cavity deep, russeted. Calyx closed. +Segments persistent, sometimes a little recurved. Basin abrupt, quite +deep, somewhat uneven. Flesh yellow, juicy, tender, pleasant subacid. +Core small. Very good. August. + + +ORTLEY. + +_Synonyms_: Ortley Pippin, Woolman's Long, Greasy Pippin, White +Bell-flower, Van Dyne, Melting Pippin, Yellow Pippin, Woodward's Pippin, +Davis White Bellflower, White Bellflower, White Detroit, Hollow-cored +Pippin, Green Bellflower, Jersey Greening, Crane's Pippin, Inman, Tom +Woodward's Pippin, Marrow Pippin, Ohio Favorite, Willow-leaf Pippin, +White Pippin, Detroit, Davis, Warren Pippen, Golden Pippin, White +Seek-no-further, and Tod's Golden Pippin. + +Origin, orchard of Michael Ortley, South Jersey. It grows pretty +strongly, with upright, slender shoots, and bears abundantly. Fruit +medium to large, roundish, oblong conic, greenish yellow, becoming fine +yellow at maturity, sometimes with a sunny cheek. Stalk slender, of +medium length, inserted in a deep, acute cavity, surrounded by russet. +Calyx closed, set in an abrupt, somewhat corrugated basin. Flesh white, +fine grained, tender, juicy, subacid, very pleasant. Good to very good. +Core large. November to February. + + +STAYMAN'S SUMMER. + +Originated on the grounds of Dr. J. Stayman, Leavenworth, Kan. Tree +hardy, vigorous, spreading, irregular, tough, wiry, droops like a +weeping willow with ropes of fruit, never breaking a limb. An early +bearer and very productive, very nearly equal to Benoni and Summer +Pearmain, and handsomer. Fruit medium, round, regular, approaching +conic; skin smooth, greenish yellow, splashed and striped with red and +purple, covered with a white bloom; dots small, gray, scattered. Stem +medium, rather slender. Cavity narrow, deep, irregular, russeted. Eye +very small, closed. Basin narrow, shallow, furrowed. Core small, +slightly open. Flesh greenish white, very juicy, brittle, sprightly, +high flavored, mild acid. Very good. Use: Kitchen, table, and market. +August and September. (_Western Pomologist._) + + +STAYMAN'S WINESAP. + +A seedling of the Winesap, originated with Dr. J. Stayman, Leavenworth, +Kan. We give his description: "Tree very vigorous, open, irregular, +spreading. Wood very dark; dark heavy foliage. An early and very +abundant bearer. Tree much in appearance like the Winesap. Fruit hangs +well on the tree. Fruit medium to large, heavy, oblate conical, regular, +greenish yellow, mostly covered and indistinctly splashed, mixed and +striped with dark, dull red; dots medium, numerous, distinct gray. Stem +of medium length, slender. Cavity wide, deep, much russeted, extending, +regular. Calyx large, open, or half closed. Segments large, erect. Basin +rather narrow, abrupt, deep, furrowed. Core medium. Flesh yellow, firm, +tender, juicy, rich, mild subacid, aromatic. Quality best. Season +January to May." + + +GARRETTSON'S EARLY. + +_Synonyms_: Somerset Harvest. + +Originated on the farm of John Garrettson, Somerset, N. J. Tree +vigorous, upright, spreading, productive. Young wood brown, slightly +downy. Fruit medium, roundish conic, yellowish, thickly covered with +light specks. Stalk short. Cavity deep, acute. Calyx closed, in a small, +abrupt, furrowed basin. Flesh white, tender, juicy, brisk subacid. Good; +valuable for cooking. September. + + +EARLY SUMMER PEARMAIN. + +_Synonym_: American Summer Pearmain. + +A rich, highly flavored fruit, much esteemed where it is known. It +appears to be quite different from the Summer Pearmain (of the English), +and is probably a seedling raised from it. It ripens gradually from the +10th of August to the last of September. Tree moderately vigorous, with +slender branches, round headed. Young shoots dull, reddish brown. Fruit +of medium size, oblong, widest at the crown, and tapering slightly to +the eye. Skin red, spotted with yellow in the shade, but streaked with +livelier red and yellow on the sunny side. Stalk three-fourths of an +inch long, and pretty deeply inserted. Eye deeply sunk. Calyx closed. +Segments short, erect. Basin abrupt, slightly corrugated. Flesh yellow, +remarkably tender, with a rich and pleasant flavor. It often bursts when +falling from the tree. Quality best. Core medium. + + +EARLY JOE. + +Origin, orchard of Herman Chapin, Ontario county, New York. Tree of slow +growth, productive; requires high culture for fair fruit. Fruit below +medium, oblate, very slightly conic, smooth, yellowish, shaded and +striped with red, and thickly sprinkled with greenish spots. Stalk of +medium length, inserted in a large cavity surrounded by russet. Calyx +closed. Basin moderate. Flesh whitish, tender, juicy, with a very +agreeable vinous flavor. Best. Ripe middle of August to middle of +September. + + +JEFFERIS. + +Origin, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Growth medium, very productive. A +fair and handsome fruit, of excellent quality, in use all of September. +Young wood light, reddish brown, smooth. Fruit medium, oblate, inclined +to conic, yellow, shaded and splashed with crimson, and thickly covered +with large whitish dots. Stalk very short, inserted in a rather large +cavity. Calyx closed, set in a round, open basin. Flesh white, tender, +juicy, with a rich, mild, subacid flavor. Very good. September. + + +WHITE PIPPIN. + +_Synonym_: Canada Pippin. + +This apple is much cultivated at the West, but of unknown origin. It is +of the Newtown Pippin class, distinct from Canada Reinette. Tree +thrifty, upright, a regular and good bearer. Young shoots dark, clear, +reddish brown, downy. Fruit large, form variable, roundish, oblate, +slightly oblique, greenish white, waxen, sprinkled with green dots, and +becoming pale yellow at maturity, sometimes having a dull blush and a +few brown dots. Stalk short, inserted in a large cavity, surrounded by +green russet. Calyx small, nearly closed, set in an abrupt-furrowed +basin. Flesh white, tender, crisp, juicy, fine, rich subacid. Very good +to best. Core small. January to March. + + +DOMINIE. + +_Synonyms_: English Rambo, Wells, Cheat, Hogan, Striped Rhode Island +Greening, Cling Tight, English Red Streak, and English Beauty of +Pennsylvania. + +This apple, extensively planted in the orchards on the Hudson and west, +so much resembles the Rambo externally that the two are often +confounded, and the outline of the Rambo may be taken as nearly a +_facsimile_ of this. The Dominie is, however, of a livelier color, and +the flavor and season of the two fruits are very distinct, the Rambo +being rather a high-flavored early winter apple, while the Dominie is a +sprightly, juicy, long-keeping winter fruit. Fruit of medium size, flat. +Skin lively greenish yellow in the shade, with stripes and splashes of +bright red in the sun, and pretty large russet specks. Stalk long and +slender, planted in a wide cavity, and inclined to one side. Calyx +small, in a broad basin, moderately sunk. Flesh white, exceedingly +tender and juicy, with a sprightly, pleasant, though not high flavor. +Young wood of a shoot lively light brown, and the trees are very hardy, +and the most rapid growers and prodigious early bearers that we +know--the branches being literally weighted down by the rope-like +clusters of fruit. The Dominie does not appear to be described by any +foreign author. Coxe says that he received it from England, but the +apple he describes and figures does not appear to be ours, and we have +never met with it in any collection here. It is highly probable that the +Dominie is a native fruit. It is excellent from December to April. + + +RHODE ISLAND GREENING. + +_Synonyms_: Burlington Greening, Russine, Bell Dubois, and Jersey +Greening. + +The Rhode Island Greening is such a universal favorite, and so generally +known, that it seems superfluous to describe it. It succeeds well in +most of the northern sections of the United States, and on a great +variety of soils. Where it succeeds it is one of the most esteemed and +profitable among early winter fruits. [In Kansas it drops too early.] +Tree a very vigorous, spreading grower. Young shoots reddish brown. Very +productive. [Shy in Kansas.] Fruit large, roundish, a little flattened, +pretty regular, but often obscurely ribbed, dark green, becoming +greenish yellow when ripe, when it sometimes shows a dull blush near the +stalk. Calyx small, woolly, closed, in a slightly sunken, scarcely +plaited basin. Stalk three-fourths of an inch long, curved, thickest at +the bottom. Flesh yellow, fine grained, tender, crisp, with an abundance +of rich, sprightly, aromatic, lively, acid juice. Very good. November to +February. + + +PENNOCK. + +_Synonyms_: Pomme Roye, Large Romanite, Prolific Beauty, Roman Knight, +Big Romanite, Neisley's Winter Penick, Pelican, Red Ox, Red Pennock, +Pennock's Red Winter, and Gay's Romanite. + +Origin, Pennsylvania. Tree a strong, vigorous, upright, spreading +grower, and very productive. Fruit quite large, oblique, generally flat, +but occasionally roundish oblong, fine, deep red, with faint, indistinct +streaks of yellow. Flesh yellow, tender and juicy, with a pleasant, +half-sweet flavor. Good. November to March. + + +KESWICK CODLIN. + +A noted English cooking apple, which may be gathered for tarts as early +as the month of August, and continues in use till November. It is an +early and a great bearer and a vigorous tree, and is one of the most +profitable of orchard sorts for cooking or market. Tree very hardy, +forming a large, regular, upright, spreading, round head. Fruit a little +above the middle size, rather conical, with a few obscure ribs. Stalk +short and deeply set. Calyx rather large. Skin greenish yellow, washed +with a faint blush on one side. Flesh yellowish white, juicy, with a +pleasant acid flavor. + + +EMPEROR. + +Described by Verry Aldrich in the _Prairie Farmer_ as follows: Fruit +medium, roundish, one-sided, orange, striped and shaded with red on the +sun side, covered with white specks. Stalk short and slender. Cavity +deep. Flesh white, fine grained, tender, juicy, pleasant, almost sweet. + + +EARLY MARGARET. + +_Synonyms_: Margaret or Striped Juneating, Early Red Juneating, Red +Juneating, Striped June, Eve Apple of the Irish, and Margaretha Apfel of +the Germans. + +An excellent early apple, ripening about the middle of July, or directly +after the Early Harvest. The tree while young is rather slender, with +reddish brown, upright, woolly shoots. It is a moderate bearer. Fruit +below medium size, roundish oblate, tapering towards the eye. Skin +greenish yellow, pretty well covered by stripes of dark red. Flesh +white, subacid, and, when freshly gathered from the tree, of a rich, +agreeable flavor. Good. + + +MOTHER. + +_Synonyms_: Queen Anne, Gardener's Apple. + +Origin, Bolton, Mass. Tree moderately vigorous, upright, and productive. +Young shoots grayish brown, downy. One of the best of apples for +dessert; rather too tender for shipment. Fruit medium. Form roundish, +slightly conical. Color yellow, almost entirely overspread with light, +clear, rich red, splashed and marbled with many deeper shades, many +minute little dots. Stalk short, small. Cavity acute, often a little +russeted. Calyx closed. Basin small, corrugated. Flesh yellow, tender, +juicy, rich, aromatic subacid. Best. November to February. + + +ARKANSAS BLACK. + +Medium, slightly conical, regular, smooth, glossy; yellow, generally +covered with deep crimson, small, light-colored dots. Basin shallow. Eye +small, closed. Cavity shallow, russeted. Stem medium. Flesh very yellow, +fine grained, firm, juicy, subacid, rich. Very good. Arkansas. (Thomas.) + + +WHITNEY. + +Medium, handsome, rich, good. Very hardy. Illinois. (Thomas.) + + +NOTE. + +All the descriptions of apples given here are taken from Downing's +"Fruit and Fruit-trees of America," excepting otherwise noted. + + + + +THE STATE, BY DISTRICTS. + + +For convenience, Kansas was divided by the official board into four +fruit districts, simply quartering the state. The first district is +composed of the following twenty-seven counties, in the northeast +quarter. Reports, or rather experiences, from each of these counties +will be found immediately following. We give below the number of apple +trees in the first district, compiled from the statistics of 1897. Many +thousands were added during the spring of 1898. + + DISTRICT No. 1--APPLE TREES, 1897. + + _Bearing._ _Not bearing._ _Total._ + Atchison county 150,024 70,691 220,715 + Brown county 160,583 57,488 218,071 + Clay county 89,725 26,087 115,812 + Cloud county 68,832 24,451 93,283 + Dickinson county 110,351 31,926 142,277 + Doniphan county 156,661 163,701 320,362 + Douglas county 159,706 120,375 280,081 + Franklin county 126,906 70,831 197,737 + Geary county 39,148 19,357 58,505 + Jackson county 123,485 84,533 208,018 + Jefferson county 120,509 86,837 207,346 + Johnson county 88,395 69,709 158,104 + Leavenworth county 199,212 216,015 415,227 + Marshall county 157,279 66,556 223,835 + Miami county 101,541 82,069 183,610 + Morris county 93,182 45,555 138,737 + Nemaha county 140,278 62,535 202,813 + Osage county 246,265 56,478 302,743 + Ottawa county 40,538 30,149 60,687 + Pottawatomie county 117,234 50,079 167,313 + Republic county 128,076 58,662 186,738 + Riley county 103,053 44,640 147,693 + Saline county 74,648 24,400 99,048 + Shawnee county 207,779 130,720 338,499 + Wabaunsee county 108,942 50,195 159,137 + Washington county 152,768 80,194 232,962 + Wyandotte county 112,541 79,903 192,444 + --------- --------- --------- + Total in district 3,377,661 1,894,136 5,271,797 + Acreage, about 600,000 300,000 900,000 + + * * * * * + +FRED WELLHOUSE & SON: Have been in Kansas since 1859, and grow no fruit +but apples, having 117 acres in Leavenworth county, planted in 1876; 160 +acres in Miami county, planted in 1878; 160 acres in Leavenworth county, +planted in 1879; 800 acres in Osage county, planted in 1889, 1890, and +1891; 300 acres in Leavenworth county, planted in 1894; 140 acres in +Leavenworth county, planted in 1896--total of about 100,000 trees, set +out from two to twenty-two years. We prefer for commercial orchard, +Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, Winesap, and York Imperial, and +for family orchard would add to these, Red June, Chenango, Maiden's +Blush, Huntsman, and Rome Beauty. We tried sixteen acres of Cooper's +Early White, but have discarded them as unprofitable, shy bearers. We +consider upland the best if soil is of good quality. We have them on all +slopes; can see no particular difference where soil is equal. We prefer +rich, black soil (vegetable mold), clay subsoil. We plant in furrows, +the rows thirty-two feet apart, the trees sixteen feet apart in the +rows, running north and south. + +The best trees to plant are two years old, the lowest limb or limbs not +over two feet from the ground. We grow most of our trees from our own +root grafts. Cultivation: We cultivate for the first five years, by +throwing the soil first to and then from the trees, with a single or a +double turning plow, and grow only corn. At five years from planting we +sow the ground to clover, and this with other growths, such as weeds, is +left on the ground as a mulch and fertilizer. We have never used any +windbreaks at any of our orchards. Think they would be an advantage in +some localities. We use traps for rabbits, knife and wire for borers. We +prune very little, such as removing broken limbs. We have never +fertilized any of our orchards. We do not believe it pays to pasture +orchards, and do not allow it. + +The insects that trouble us most are: Canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, +fringed-wing bud moth, handmaid-moth or yellow-necked caterpillar, +roundheaded borer and the tussock-moth caterpillar on our trees; and +codling-moth, gouger and tree cricket on and in our fruit. We spray +annually, using a horse-power machine, illustrated in former reports of +the State Horticultural Society, for the leaf-eating insects named, +using London purple and clear water, sometimes adding lime. We spray +before the blossom opens, for bud moth, canker-worm and +tent-caterpillar, and after the petals have fallen for codling-moth, +tussock-moth, and fall web-worm. We have been successful except as to +bud moth and fall web-worm. We believe we have greatly reduced the +codling-moth by spraying, and we know we have destroyed the canker-worm. +Have never successfully combated borers, excepting with knife and wire. +Fall web-worms are burned in the tree with a gasoline torch, or the +small limbs with webs are removed and burned. We have as yet found no +particular method for fighting the bud moth successfully. + +We gather our apples by hand in common two-bushel seamless sacks, used +in the same manner as for sowing grain. A strap of heavy leather is +attached, making it easy for the shoulder. A hook and ring are also put +on to facilitate the removal of the sack when emptying. We prefer common +straight ladders, with sides from sixteen to twenty inches apart at the +bottom and six inches at the top, rounds fourteen inches apart. We use +bushel boxes for hauling from the orchard to packing-house. We sort into +three grades: No. 1, No. 2, and culls. No. 1's are all sound and firm +apples, of about from two and one-fourth to two and one-half inches in +diameter, the size of the smallest depending on the variety. We put in +the No. 2 grade those that have any defects barring them from the first +grade, yet they make a good second-class for immediate use; we also pack +in this grade any sound apples that run uniformally small. + +Of all packages tried, we prefer and use the three-bushel barrel, 17-1/8 +inch head and 28-1/2 inch stave. When one head is removed, the barrel is +turned over and a rap with the hand removes all trash. If we are packing +a fine grade of fruit, we put a piece of white paper, cut a little less +than the diameter of the barrel, in before facing. Barrels are +double-faced or plated. We are careful to have the barrels rocked or +shaken often while being filled. The name of variety and our trade-mark +is put on the barrel with stencil or rubber stamp. No. 1's and 2's are +hauled to shipping station in barrels; culls in bulk in ordinary farm +wagon. We have never sold our crop in the orchard; always preferred to +have it picked and packed under our own supervision. Our apples have +been sold in car lots. Firsts and seconds have gone to wholesale +dealers. Culls we have evaporated, sold to men who evaporate, to +cider-mills, and to dealers who handle bulk apples. + +For drying, we use the New York hop kiln, Rival No. 2 parers, and +upright bleachers, all of which have been reasonably satisfactory. We +believe them the best we can get, considering the class of evaporated +fruit in demand. White stock is best handled in fifty-pound boxes; +chops, peelings and cores in sacks. We always found a ready market for +dried fruit. Some years it paid well. + +We have wintered only in cold-storage plants, always in barrels, and it +has been profitable. Ben Davis and Winesap have kept best, with Missouri +Pippin a close second. Jonathan keeps well under proper conditions. If +kept as late as March, it is generally necessary to repack, but not +always. Our greatest loss has been on Jonathan, which in some instances, +when kept late in the season, has reached ten per cent. + +We have never irrigated or watered any part of our orchards. + +Prices have ranged as follows with us: For No. 1, from $1.50 to $4; and +No. 2, 90 cents to $2 per barrel. Culls have brought from 25 cents to 60 +cents per 100 pounds; evaporated apples from 4 to 13 cents per pound; +all these free on board. + + * * * * * + +A. E. HOUGHTON, Weltbote, Washington county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-nine years; have 100 apple trees, fifteen years old, twelve +inches in diameter. For commercial and family orchards, I prefer Ben +Davis, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, Huntman's Favorite, Grimes's Golden +Pippin, Rambo, and Jonathan. Have tried and discarded Dominie, Roman +Stem, and Bellflower; the latter on account of shy bearing. Think bottom +land, black, rich loam, and north aspect, the best. I prefer +three-year-old, short, stout-bodied trees--the shorter the better--with +limbs as low as they will grow. I cultivate my orchard to corn, potatoes +or vines as long as it is possible to do the work. I use a plow, +cultivator, and one-horse double-shovel plow. I cease cropping when they +begin to bear, and plant to clover. I consider windbreaks essential; +would not grow an orchard without one, and would use Osage orange, ash, +Russian mulberry, or box-elder, planted in several rows on south and +west. + +I wrap my trees with corn-stalks to protect from rabbits, and wash them +with strong soapsuds, for borers, in May and June. I prune a great deal +to let the sun, light and air in; I think it beneficial and that it +pays. I never thin; but think it would be beneficial when the apples are +large enough to tell the good ones from the bad. I think it advisable to +use fertilizers on poor land. I never pasture my orchard under any +circumstances whatever: do not think it advisable. My trees are bothered +with borers. Some worm troubles my apples. I do not spray. + +I pick into a sack over the shoulder, as for sowing wheat. I sort into +two classes as I pick, to avoid handling again, putting the sound, +hand-picked in one pile and the windfalls in another; cover them with +hay and let them stay out as long as I dare, then put them in the +cellar; but the cellar is too warm; think an outdoor cellar or cave +would be better; would like to put them in cold storage, which is far +the best. I sell my apples in the orchard, or any way I can get the most +for them; generally take them to town and sell them. I sell my second +and third grades at home; feed the culls to the hogs. My best markets +are Washington and Greenleaf. I have never tried distant markets. Never +dry any. I store some apples in boxes, barrels, and bulk; am not very +successful. I find that Winesap and Rawle's Janet keep best. I do not +irrigate. Prices have been from fifty to seventy-five cents per bushel. +There is not much sale for dried apples. We do most of our own work. + + * * * * * + +EDWIN TAYLOR, Delaware township, Wyandotte county: I have lived in +Kansas twenty-seven years. Have about 5000 apple trees aged from eight +to twelve years. The best varieties of apples for commercial orchards +are not many. No one variety could be named which would be best for all +locations or conditions. The Ben Davis is most largely planted in the +West. Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, Willow Twig, Park's Keeper, are all +valuable sorts. There are others. A family orchard is the most important +orchard a farmer plants. It should contain a small number of trees and a +large number of varieties. Two of a kind are a plenty. There should be +at least twenty kinds. That will allow for a new variety to ripen in its +season every two weeks or less in summer and fall and every three weeks +during the winter. They should begin with the earliest and finish with +the very longest keeper. These varieties will overlap, so that the +farmer will almost always have two sorts to choose from. There should be +sweet apples among them--particularly winter sweets. + +The names, characteristics, qualities, description, etc., of the twenty +to thirty varieties that make up an ideal orchard would require a long +chapter, if the subject was fully treated. Beginners in tree buying +should be cautioned not to let the nurseryman run in half a dozen trees +of each kind for the family orchard on them. Two trees of a kind are +plenty, particularly as the surplus of the family orchard commonly goes +to waste. The names should be carefully registered, so there will be no +wondering what an apple is when it begins to bear. You can't keep +company satisfactorily with an apple that you don't know the name of, +any better than you can an unknown man. + +The best place to keep these family apples is in a dugout, in the side +of a bank if possible, at all events good and deep, with the door at the +north, and a good blow-hole in the south end. I don't know much about +soils or location. I found myself in possession of some Kaw river +timbered hills, clay soil carrying some sand; not good for much else; so +I planted them--tops, sides, and draws--with apple trees, which have +done well on the tops of the hills, sides of the hills, and in the +valleys between the hills. Am inclined to suspect there is a great deal +of gammon written about "slope" and "expanse" for orchards. My +conclusion is that that is a good slope which you happen to have. Trees +growing in the Kaw bottoms themselves, I observe, thrive and bear. The +only cultivation I have ever given trees has been such as they got by +being component parts of a corn-field, except that I have mainly given +the tree rows extra cultivation, keeping them clean of grass and weeds. +My orchards are now seeded to clover; clover is not valuable, for its +own sake, among trees, but the trees thrive with it. Its greatest use, +so far as I can see, is to make you mow the orchard where it is twice +during the season. I prefer to stop cultivation in orchards when they +are six years old. + +I have no knowledge of windbreaks, but I have had a great deal of +"mechanical destruction" done by borers and rabbits. Both these pests +are good "mechanics" in their way and willing to work. I have the borers +hunted spring and fall. Small trees I have protected from rabbits by +stalks, paper, or veneering. Rabbits are not hard to head off, but they +won't let a case go by default. Some people depend upon traps, dogs, +guns, poison, cats, washes, wagon grease and liver to keep the rabbits +away. I have known all of these to fail, but I have never known a tree +well tied up with corn-stalks to suffer from "mechanical destruction" +via the rabbit route, unless the string broke. There is no law against +having a good string. The only pruning I have ever done has been to take +out water sprouts. I don't know whether it paid or not. But I like the +looks of a tree better without the pompadour effect a top full of +sprouts gives it. Never have thinned apples; orchards here are +self-thinners. By picking time the fruit is fully half on the ground and +commonly not too much on the trees. Have never used manure or any +fertilizer on apple trees. I never pastured an orchard but once. One +trial cured me. I judge that one trial is nearly always enough. It is +not advisable to pasture orchards, not even with hogs. The greatest pest +we have is the apple worm--son, I am told, of the codling-moth. Have +made no effort to check it by spraying, or otherwise. + +I pick apples by hand; drop them into a sack hung over the shoulder; +when the sack is full, it is emptied onto a sorting table. Make two +classes of fruit: No. 1 and culls. Have never used any package but the +barrel. Prefer the full-sized flour barrel. Fill barrel full enough to +prevent rattling, when head is pressed in; mark faced head with variety, +quality, and my name and address. Have never sold crop in orchard; often +sell culls there. Have never sold a greater amount than one car-load at +one time; have sold as little as one peck. The best market is sometimes +at one place, sometimes at another. Minneapolis is the most distant +market I have ever tried. Have mostly put my apples in cold storage. +About one time out of three they have kept well. The fault was not in +the apples; cold storage is either not understood or frequently +mismanaged. Cold-storage people should be made to guarantee their +work!--should not be paid for apples that are not delivered in the +spring. Cold-storage rates (fifty cents per barrel) are absurdly high. I +use male help, young and old, good and bad. Help commonly hard to get +here in the fall. Wages ordinarily one dollar per day, without board. + + * * * * * + +C. D. MARTINDALE, Scranton, Osage county: I have been on this place +thirteen years, and since coming here have set every tree now on it. +Trees that I set out in the spring of 1885 measure six to ten inches in +diameter. In 1895 I put out 350 apple trees; in 1896 I planted 250 more, +part of them were three- and four-year-old, when set. I lost only +thirteen out of the 600. A few of the Missouri Pippins bore fruit last +year. I consider the following varieties, in the order named, best for +commercial orchard: Ben Davis, Jonathan, Winesap, Grimes's Golden +Pippin; and for family use I would add Maiden's Blush, Cooper's Early +White, Missouri Pippin, and Rawle's Janet. I have tried and discarded +Smith's Cider and Lowell, as they blight too much. I prefer bottom land +if it is properly drained, as it is apt to be richer and the trees will +not suffer as much in a dry season--black loam, with a porous subsoil, +to let the surplus water soak away. I think a northern slope best, as +the trees do not suffer as much from the sun on hot summer days. Apple +trees have done best for me on a black loam underlaid with a porous +subsoil that will take the surplus water and still hold moisture in +summer. + +I plant by plowing light furrows (thirty-four feet apart) across the lay +of the ground, then plowing two or four furrows together up and down the +slope thirty-four feet apart, and run a lister in this big furrow, +breaking up the ground as deeply as possible. I dip the roots of my +trees in lye water, using one pound carbonate of lye to eight gallons of +water. Then fill in with a spade around the roots, being careful not to +leave any holes for mice to nest in. Two- or three-year-old trees, with +roots and top well balanced, no forks to split down when the tree gets +older, bark smooth and good color, I consider best. I prefer piece-root +to whole-root grafts. My experience is that we get better trees on piece +roots, as the union is lower down in the ground and the scion throws out +roots, which makes the trees healthy and not wholly dependent on +seedling roots. I cultivate my orchard till ten or twelve years old, and +keep all weeds and grass away, using an eight-inch plow with one horse +next to the trees and backfurrow to every other row; then use two horses +and fourteen-inch plow for the middles. The next year I backfurrow to +the rows left the year before; in this way we have no large back or dead +furrows, but keep the ground level. In cultivating I use a +fourteen-tooth Peerless harrow each side of the row, and cultivate the +rest with two-horse cultivator; then use a good sharp hoe close to the +trees. Corn is the best crop to raise among young trees, as it acts as a +windbreak and a partial shade. After an orchard gets to bearing, seed to +red clover. I would change from corn to clover eight or nine years after +setting. + +Windbreaks are essential. I would have them on the south and west sides +of the orchard, at least. I would make them of evergreen, Osage orange, +or mulberry. I would not plant black walnut, cottonwood, or maple, as +they are injurious to apple trees. Plant peach trees between the apple +trees; they grow fast, and protect the apple until large enough to stand +the winds. The best thing I have found to keep rabbits, mice, etc., off +the trees is a protector made of five lath two feet long, woven with +wire; they can be left on summer and winter, as sunlight and air can +pass through to the bark and keep it healthy and keep the sun from +scalding the bark; it also keeps the borers and the whippletree from +doing much damage; they can be left on until the trees outgrow them. I +cut out all limbs that are liable to rub each other at any future time, +and all limbs that are liable to split down as the tree gets older; I +also trim high enough to let a small horse walk under the limbs. I take +off the back pad while working among the trees, so it will not be +catching on the limbs; I think that it pays, and is beneficial. I have +not thinned the fruit while on the trees. My trees are planted in +alternate rows of different kinds, so I cannot tell what is best, blocks +or mixed. I use all the barn-yard litter broadcast that I can get, and +wish I had more. I shall plow under a good crop of red clover about +every other year, and seed again the same year to clover, as I think it +beneficial; I would do the same on all lands that I have yet tried. I do +not let horses or cattle over one year old pasture in the orchard. I let +calves and small pigs have access to the orchard, as they will eat up a +great many wormy apples that drop, and help keep down the weeds. I think +it advisable to pasture with young stock, and that it pays. + +My apple trees are troubled with canker-worm, twig-borer, and +leaf-crumpler. The codling-moth troubled my apples some last year. I +have not tried spraying as yet. I have found borers in a few trees that +were out in the grass near the fence. I pick my apples by hand; using +step-ladders for the lower limbs, and longer ladders, wide at the bottom +and very narrow at the top, for the upper limbs. While picking in the +inside of a tree, I use a half-bushel sack made to hang on a limb, and +so arranged that it can be let to the ground and emptied without getting +out of the tree. I make three grades of my apples: First, good size, +smooth, free from worms, and good calyx; second, apples under size, a +little specked and wormy; third, culls. I have been sorting from the +pile, but think I shall use a table made with the back end the higher, +and the top made of heavy canvas without end, and passing over rollers +at each end, so the apples can be brought in reach without handling +them; then I would arrange my barrels so that the apples can be placed +in them without bruising. I prefer the three-bushel barrel to ship in; +but for handling I want a one-bushel box with handholes in the ends. I +would pack the barrels as tight as possible, and then mark the name of +variety, grade and name of grower on it. I would ship them by fast +freight or express. + +Sometimes I sell in the orchard. I have generally sold by retail and +peddled, as I have a good set of customers. I can do as well to sell +direct to the consumer as to sell at wholesale. I sell second grade to +any one that will buy. I feed the culls to cattle and hogs, and let the +hens have all they want. I have had a market near home for all I have +grown; may have to look further when all my trees bear. I have not tried +distant markets. What I have tried took all the profits. I do not think +it pays to dry apples, unless on an extensive scale. I store my apples +for winter market in a dry cellar. I pack in both barrels and boxes +while in the cellar; prefer boxes, as they are easier to handle and sort +from. I have not been as successful as I would like, but think I have +done as well as many apple-growers have with the number of trees I have. +The Ben Davis, Winesap and Janet have kept the best for me. I have not +tried artificial cold storage. If apples are held any length of time, I +repack, so as to be sure they are up to grade. I do not lose over two +per cent. In the fall apples sold at about thirty cents per bushel, and +through the winter fifty to eighty cents per bushel. I employ careful +men to pick and handle my fruit. I pay from fifteen dollars to eighteen +dollars a month and board. + + * * * * * + +S. REYNOLDS, Lawrence, Douglas county: I have lived in Kansas +forty-three years; have an apple orchard planted from two to forty +years. I planted my first orchard in 1858, and, not knowing anything +about what sorts would be suitable for Kansas, I had to rely entirely on +what the Missouri nurserymen recommended. Among the sorts planted which +proved failures were Yellow Bellflower, Fulton Strawberry, White Winter +Pearmain, Baldwin, the Russets and some others. Winesap, Rawle's Janet, +Dominie and White Bellflower all did fairly well. Of all the sorts the +Winesap has been the most profitable. If I had planted that first +orchard chiefly to Winesaps, the cash receipts would have been more than +double. My later experience and observations prove that the Missouri +Pippin is the most profitable apple to grow for the market, the Winesap +and Ben Davis following next in order. For a family orchard, I prefer +Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Jonathan, and Winesap. I prefer second +bottom, with a rich soil and a porous subsoil. I prefer two-year-old, +vigorous trees, set in rows two rods apart. Use a potato hook. + +I consider the best plan of planting is to throw two furrows together, +and plant on this double thickness of surface soil; the roots will +luxuriate in this bed of fertile soil and with proper care the tree will +make a vigorous growth. Plant early in the spring, before the buds +start. I cultivate my orchard with a disc harrow followed by a common +harrow, until they begin to bear; plant corn, potatoes or other hoed +crop in a young orchard. Seed the bearing orchard to clover. Windbreaks +are not essential in eastern Kansas. For rabbits I wrap the young trees; +dig borers out. Pruning should be done at the time of planting. After +that give the tree all the top it can grow. Never fear but the roots +will keep pace with the top. Remember that every time you cut out a +large limb you threaten the life of the tree. Give the tree plenty of +room, so that the roots will not overreach each other. The moisture in +the soil is only sufficient for one set of roots. About two rods apart +is the proper distance. I prune with a knife to keep the limbs from +crossing. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees, they usually thin +themselves. My Ben Davis and Missouri Pippins are in mixed planting. I +fertilize my orchard with stable litter; I think it beneficial, and +would advise its use on all soils after the trees begin to bear. I +pasture my orchard in the fall after the fruit is gathered, with horses. +I cannot see any injury. I never let horned cattle in. + +My trees are troubled with root aphis and roundhead borers. I do not +spray. I find that all apples must be gathered before they are quite +ripe if we want them to keep well. In order to have them in the best +condition for keeping they must be picked without bruises; I hand-pick +mine in a sack over the shoulder. They must be kept perfectly cool and +at an even temperature. This of course can be done by placing them in +cold storage. I sort from a table in the orchard into two classes, large +and medium. Pack in barrels, mark with grade, and haul to market. I sell +apples in the orchard, generally wholesale them; sell the best to +shippers. Sell the culls for cider. My best markets are west and north. +I have tried distant markets, through agents, and found it paid. I do +not dry any apples, but sell many low-grade apples to the evaporating +factory. Do not store any; sell in the fall to shippers. Do not +irrigate. Prices have been from one dollar per barrel up. Dried apples +from four to six cents per pound. I employ young men at one dollar per +day. The profits from a good apple orchard are more than those from any +other crop which requires no more labor and expense. The profits from +one good crop of apples are more than from three crops of wheat or corn; +but apple-growing, as well as the growing of all other kinds of fruit, +requires constant, patient labor and attention, in order to be +successful, and even then the money will not come in with a great rush. +In conclusion, I would say, that the business of growing fruit is much +more certain of success than that of mercantile business. It has been +ascertained from actual statistics that, of every 100 merchants, fifty +utterly fail in business, forty are only moderately successful, and of +the remaining ten only one will become rich. + + * * * * * + +W. J. GRIFFING, Manhattan, Kan.: Were that old fisherman, Izaak Walton, +alive to-day, and an enthusiastic fruit-grower of eastern Kansas, he +would probably express himself in the book he would write, "The Complete +Horticulturist," that "doubtless God might have made a better apple +country than this, but doubtless He never did." If there is a strip of +land in the United States equal in size to the eastern third of Kansas +able to grow as many and as fine apples as this particular strip, it has +yet to be discovered. Our own experience in this line dates back just +forty years. In 1858 the old family account-book shows the purchase by +my father of three dollars' worth of apple trees (the number not given). +This amount judiciously expended now would secure considerable nursery +stock; but the same record shows the purchase, the month previous, of +wheat at two dollars per bushel; sugar, six pounds for one dollar; +flour, five dollars per hundredweight; so the number of trees obtained +was probably not large. The following year, however (1859), seventy-one +apple trees and some cherry trees were purchased, at a cost of $17.75. +These efforts to start an orchard were successful. The location was on +the old homestead, about two and one-half miles east of what was at that +time a frontier village called Topeka. The trees bore the first fruit in +1867. Other and more profitable orchards have been planted since then on +the farm, but a few of the original plantation are still standing and +bearing occasional crops of fruit (so my brother informs me). + +On locating at Manhattan in 1870, the sod was broken, and the following +year an orchard was planted; and we have planted trees more or less +every year since. It has proven a source of pleasure and profit. After +it commenced bearing I do not recall a year when the crop was an entire +failure, and though we cannot now command two dollars per bushel, as we +could for the apples from the Topeka orchard, yet they have paid well. +The number of varieties we have tried is no less than seventy-five, not +including seedlings. The following varieties I would unhesitatingly +recommend as having proved profitable and more or less hardy. For early +summer, Early Harvest and Red Astrachan; both are tender apples when +fully ripe and will then not bear shipping well. I have found it best +to gather the ripest at least every other day and find buyers in the +local market. The next to follow these, Chenango Strawberry, Maiden's +Blush, and Pennsylvania Red Streak; the two latter are good shippers. +The Pennsylvania Red Streaks are a decided success with me, and have +paid nearly as well as my best winter sorts; don't fail to plant some of +them. Next, I would recommend the following winter varieties in the +order named: Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, Jonathan, and if you +like a first-class sweet apple plant some Bentley Sweet, if you can +obtain them. I have been obliged to top-graft some seedlings in order to +perpetuate my own stock of them. I think it is also advisable to plant +some Rawle's Janet trees. They are a late bloomer and will occasionally +produce a crop when the other sorts have been injured by late freezing. +In fact, they have the faculty of bearing in the "off" years, as we call +them--years when the balance of the orchard is resting from previous +labors. + +Much has been said as to the proper location for an orchard--bottom land +or hilltop, level ground or sloping. The fact is, with careful attention +to the trees, any good, rich soil will answer. Anything that can in a +measure ward off the evil effects of the fierce summer gales and the +droughts of July, August and September will tend to minimize the losses. +Were it possible for me to choose a piece of land exactly to my notions, +I should select a river-bottom farm in the neck of some large +"horseshoe," being where it would be possible for the trees to reach +down their roots and draw moisture during the dry season by natural +subirrigation. Marketing the crop is the last but not the least work of +the apple-grower. In fact, when the orchard is well established, this is +about the only work connected with the orchard. And in that respect the +orchard has a decided advantage over other farm crops, that require +yearly preparation of the soil, sowing, harrowing, cultivating, etc., as +well as the harvesting of the crop. The early summer apples can usually +be sold on the local market at fair prices; the later summer and fall +can be shipped, and are usually in fair demand by Western buyers. Ship +only your best; it will hardly pay to send any other grade. There is +usually a good demand at this point for winter varieties by farmers from +the West, who come in and buy their winter supply by the wagon-load. +Occasionally, if the Eastern crop is short, buyers from Chicago will be +on the ground. We do not believe in holding apples long in the hope of +obtaining higher prices. Cold storage will solve this difficulty of the +orchardist; we hope it will prove a success. + +The most convenient thing to gather apples in from a tree or ladder that +we have tried is a picking sack--a grain sack with a heavy wire or a +stiff leather strap fastened around the mouth, and a broad strap +connecting the top with the bottom of the sack. This can be carried over +the shoulder with considerable comfort. There are always more or less +inferior and unmarketable apples left after the best have been disposed +of, and what to do with them is a question that confronts every great +apple grower. For the last fourteen years we have been working this +grade into vinegar. We found there was considerable to learn and care +exercised to avoid losses. I will mention a few important things that +are necessary to produce a good article of cider vinegar. First obtain +good, iron-bound oak barrels--vinegar or whisky barrels preferred. Never +use soft wood barrels of any kind. Paint them well with ocher before +using; they will last longer. After filling with cider, keep in a shed +until cool weather; then draw off and run into barrels in the cellar for +winter, although, if well protected and not too full, they could remain +out in the shed over winter. In the spring draw off again and run into +other barrels; you will, in this, hasten the fermentation of vinegar and +obtain an article free from sediment. It requires from one to two years +for vinegar to cease working. Sell it then, and not before. Though it +may be very strong, it will not keep pickles unless the process is +complete. Much of the vinegar sold on the markets as apple vinegar is +made from corn, and now that corn has risen in price it is possible that +the price of this kind of vinegar may rise also. It has not the quality +or flavor of cider vinegar, but it can be manufactured so cheaply that +it has hurt the market for a better article. + + * * * * * + +Maj. FRANK HOLSINGER, Rosedale, Wyandotte county: Has resided in Kansas +since March 7, 1867--thirty years; has 1500 apple trees from one to +twenty-nine years planted, "big as a barn." Prefers Gano, Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin and York Imperial for commercial purposes, and Early +Harvest, Cooper's Early White, Maiden's Blush and Jonathan added for +family use. Says life is too short to tell how many varieties he has +tried and discarded. Prefers a loose soil, and used to think hilltop +best, but says there is no choice between bottom and hilltop, and that +any particular slope is a delusion, as all are equal. Plants medium +two-year-old trees, "usually roots downward--tops up." Cultivates with +double-shovel plow and hoe up to seven years, planting with corn or +potatoes. Then grows clover and weeds, "weeds mostly," ceasing to +cultivate when it becomes inconvenient. Says windbreaks are unnecessary, +and should only be made of the sun--"let her shine"--and does not +understand how a rabbit can do a _mechanical_ job of gnawing. Does not +prune; he "trains"; leaves the pruning tools in the tool-house, and says +it pays. Would thin apples on trees if labor did not come so high. His +experience as to difference in fruitfulness between planting of one or +of several kinds [together] is unsatisfactory. Believes fertilizers are +good for trees if spread out, never if piled around the tree; would +surely advise its use on all orchards. Would never allow an orchard +pastured by any kind of live stock. + +Has a large list of insects to contend against, but is not bothered with +leaf eaters, hence does not spray, and does not believe any one has +lessened the codling-moth by spraying. Uses common sense on borers, and +digs them out. He first mounds the tree, and thereby gets what larvae +there may be deposited high up in the collar, few remain; these I dig +out, which is all "simple enough." He describes gathering apples thus: +"Pick 'em by hand; surround the apple with your fingers, break back +gently, which loosens the stem, then lay gently in the basket. It is +very simple, the process." Makes two classes, one the best, the other of +seconds. In the first we put all that seem perfect; in the second, all +others that are not culls. Packs in barrels, well shaken down and +pressed; marks with name of variety, and always rolls [?] them to +market. Sells the best any way possible, peddles seconds, and lets the +culls rot. His best market is Kansas City--three miles. Never dries any. +Stores for winter in various ways. Has had varying success, and believes +loss in cold store was owing to varying temperature and lack of proper +care. Does not irrigate, but trusts in the Lord. Prices range from six +dollars to ten dollars per barrel. For help he uses "men and mules," and +pays as "little as possible, believing that is often too much." + + * * * * * + +JOHN E. SAMPLE, Beman, Morris county: Have been in Kansas twenty years; +have 1000 trees planted twelve years, of Ben Davis, Rawle's Janet, +Missouri Pippin, and Winesap; also Red and Sweet June, Early Harvest, +and Maiden's Blush. Have discarded the Twenty-ounce Pippin as no good +here. I have a deep, black loam with a clay subsoil, on upland, with +southeast slope. I plant two-year-old trees a little deeper than they +grow in the nursery, in rows thirty feet apart, and thirty feet in the +rows, alternating the trees. I cultivate to corn and potatoes for about +eight years, and then sow to red clover. I believe windbreaks +beneficial, and would make them of red cedar or Russian apricots planted +on the west, south and east sides, thirty feet from the orchard. I feed +the rabbits corn and clover; have no trouble with borers. I prune +heavily, to make the apples large and keep down too much wood growth. I +fertilize my trees with timber dirt, and think it pays. I believe it +pays and is advisable to pasture orchards with hogs. I pick by hand, and +sort into three classes: large, medium, small and blemished. Have not +dried any. Store in the cellar, in crates two feet long, ten inches +wide, and eight inches deep. Have sold at fifty to eighty cents per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +E. K. WOLVERTON, Barnes, Washington county: I have resided in Kansas +twenty-eight years; have an apple orchard of 18,500 trees from five to +twenty-seven years old. For market I prefer Missouri Pippin and Ben +Davis, and for family orchard would add Duchess of Oldenburg. Have tried +and discarded Winesap and Rawle's Janet on account of shy bearing and +poor keeping quality. I prefer a rich bottom with a porous subsoil, an +east and north slope. I prefer good, thrifty, two-year-old trees. I +plant by wire after the principle of check-row corn-planting; make the +links twenty feet long, tie a white cloth in each link coupling, make +the line long enough to plant ten trees (eleven links in length), +stretch the chain east and west, say on north side of plat intended for +planting; stick a stake at every tag. Draw another line ten trees south +of it, and stick a stake at every tag, and so on to the south side of +the plat. Then draw the line from the northeast stake to the east stake +of the second row, the one due south, having the north tag at the stake. +Then plant at every tag, placing the tree on east side of wire. When the +row is planted move the wire west to the next stake, and so on till you +reach the west side. The ground should first be prepared by plowing as +for corn; float off [?] every evening all that you have plowed that day, +which leaves the ground in the best condition. + +I cultivate my orchard to corn for six to eight years. I plant twenty +feet each way, and take an oak plant sixteen feet long, and place one +section of a disc at each end of it, making it cut sixteen feet wide +from outside to outside, and running within two feet of the trees at +either end, leaving a space eight feet wide in the middle. Run another +disc on that ground with another team and you have the space between the +rows all clean of weeds if ground is in good condition when work is +done. Cultivate both ways as often as necessary. I grow no crop in a +bearing orchard. Windbreaks are not essential. For rabbits I tie coarse +grass around the trees with label wire, and leave it on two years. I +also use traps. I do not prune my trees; it is too injurious to the +trees. I do not thin my apples while on the trees; it is too expensive. +My trees are planted in blocks. I fertilize my orchard with stable +litter; think it beneficial and would advise its use on all soils. I do +not pasture my orchard. My apples are troubled with worms. I spray the +first of May with London purple for canker and apple worms. + +I pick in baskets and sacks. Sort into two classes: marketable and +culls, using a sorting table. Sell my apples in the orchard to wagons +from the West. I evaporate the second- and third-grade apples when the +crop is large; make the culls into cider and vinegar. I tried distant +markets for two years and found they paid. When apples are abundant we +dry for market; use the same kind of driers as are used at Fairmount; +sell them in sacks to the stores, and find a ready market for them; but +it does not always pay. I do not store any for winter market if I can +sell them in the fall. I do not irrigate. Prices have been in 1896, +twenty-five cents per bushel; 1897, forty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +J. A. HEWITT, Hiawatha, Brown county: I have lived in Kansas thirty +years, and have an orchard of 900 trees twenty-six years old. For +commercial purposes I prefer the Ben Davis, Winesap, and Jonathan; and +for family use would add Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, and Grimes's +Golden. Have tried and discarded some; very few varieties pay. I prefer +high prairie. Have never grown any seedlings. I cultivate my orchard by +planting to corn--raising no small grain--for a few years, then use the +disc and harrow as long as the orchard lasts. I plant nothing in the +bearing orchard, and cease cropping about eight years after setting. +Windbreaks are essential to a growing orchard. I prune my trees a little +every year to keep them in shape, and to let the sun in; I think it +beneficial, and that it pays. Do not thin the fruit while on the trees, +but think it would save time and pay well. I can see no difference +whether trees are in blocks [of one kind] or mixed plantings. I do not +fertilize my orchard, but am sure it would be beneficial, judging by +some that have fertilized; I would advise it on all soils. No! no! no! +no! I do not pasture my orchard; do not think it advisable; it does not +pay. My apples are troubled with codling-moth. I do not spray. I sell my +apples in the orchard at wholesale, yet sometimes retail them. I let my +neighbors pick up the culls at ten cents per bushel. My best market is +at home. I store apples successfully in bushel crates. I find the +Winesap, Rawle's Janet, Ben Davis and Little Romanite keep best. I have +to repack stored apples before marketing, losing about two per cent. + + * * * * * + +JAMES DUNLAP, Detroit, Dickinson county: Has lived in Kansas since +October, 1871. Has an orchard of 1200 apple trees, 300 planted sixteen +years, 700 planted eleven years, 200 planted six years. Considers +Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Ben Davis and Jonathan best for market, and +for family would add Red June, Early Harvest, Mammoth Black Twig, and +Cooper's Early White. Have tried and discarded Yellow Transparent, +Rambo, Fameuse, and others. Prefers bottom and eastern slope, sandy +loam, with clay subsoil. Plants thrifty one-year-old trees in holes +large enough to spread the roots out well, leaning the young trees +slightly to the southwest. Cultivates both ways as close to the trees as +possible, usually planting to corn until the orchard is about twelve +years old; then pastures to calves in fore part of season, mowing off +the grass and weeds later. Believes windbreaks very essential on north, +west and south sides; uses Osage orange hedge and two rows of +forest-trees, planting them seven feet apart and seven feet away from +the apple trees, when orchard is started. + +For protection from rabbits he uses a wash of lye and soft soap on the +tree. In pruning he believes it pays to cut out sap sprouts, and balance +up the tree. He fertilizes by placing stable litter around the trees in +winter, and spreading it in the spring, and says it pays. Says it +certainly pays and does no harm to pasture the old orchards with calves. +He is troubled with canker-worm, flathead borer, tarnish plant-bug, fall +web-worm, and leaf-crumpler, also with codling-moth. He sometimes sprays +for codling-moth and canker-worm, and thinks he has reduced both of them +materially. Cuts out borers and washes the tree with lye. Has tried +kerosene oil on borers and says it did not seem to injure the trees. He +picks in baskets, dumps in piles in the orchard, and covers with coarse +hay. Sorts into two classes--sellers and cider apples. Uses barrels as a +package. Makes cider vinegar and hog feed of culls, and sells his good +apples in various ways; has sold in orchard. His best markets are the +surrounding towns and the neighboring farmers. Never dries any, and only +stores enough for winter use of family. Price in 1896 was seventy-five +cents for best, fifty cents for seconds. Hires no help. + + * * * * * + +ROBERT MONTGOMERY, Troy, Doniphan county: Came to Kansas in 1857; served +three years in the United States army, and have been here ever since. I +have 4000 apple trees that have been set from twenty to thirty years. My +market varieties are Ben Davis, Jonathan, and Missouri Pippin. For +family use I added Yellow Transparent, Red June, Chenango Strawberry, +White Winter Pearmain, Rawle's Janet, and Nelson's Sweet. I have +discarded the Baldwin, Spitzenberg, Northern Spy, Early Harvest, and +Early Pennock. Bottom land is not good; hills and hollows are best, with +north or east slope; what we call mulatto soil is best. I prefer thrifty +two- or three-year-old trees with low tops. Half of my trees are planted +thirty feet each way. I now plant in rows two rods apart north and south +and one rod apart in the row. I raise corn and potatoes among my trees +for five or seven years, cultivating with the plow and the hoe; +afterward I seed to clover; a disc can be used to good advantage every +year; I keep the orchard in clover. Windbreaks are beneficial on high +land, made of cottonwood, or better of cedar or Norway spruce, planted +on the south side when you plant the orchard. I protect from rabbits +with wooden protectors, leaving them on the year round. I cut the borers +out with a knife, also use a wire. I shape the head of young trees by +cutting out all the watersprouts with pruning shears and saw; old trees +must be pruned or the apples will be small. + +Barn-yard litter is beneficial on thin land, not necessary on rich land, +but ashes are good on any soil. I pasture my orchard in summer with +young horses and hogs. I think it advisable, as the hogs eat the apples +that drop and destroy the worms. I have never sprayed. I pick in +half-bushel baskets, and sacks with an iron hoop in the mouth; pour them +in barrels and haul them to the barn, except those we wish to ship at +once, which we sort in the orchard. I make two classes--good, sound, +merchantable apples, and seconds. I have a culler that holds one barrel. +I sort into a barrel, throwing the culls into another barrel, and I +afterward sort the culls, for seconds; I pack in eleven-peck barrels, +full and pressed solid, marked with the name of the variety written on +the barrel. I sell the best at wholesale in barrels, the second grade by +car-loads in bulk; the culls I give away, feed to hogs and cows, and +make into cider. My best market is East and North. Have never shipped +more than 500 or 600 miles away, and it paid. Have never dried any, and +only store in barrels in my barn until I get a sale for them, never +later than December. Price in the orchards in 1896 was seventy-five +cents per barrel; in 1897, one dollar and a half. I use men for picking, +at one dollar per day and their dinner. + + * * * * * + +F. W. DIXON, Holton, Jackson county: Has been in Kansas twenty-seven +years; has an apple orchard of 6000 trees, set from three to twenty-five +years. Grows and recommends for commercial orchard: Ben Davis, Missouri +Pippin, Jonathan, Winesap, and Gano. For family orchard: Winesap, Ben +Davis, Jonathan, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Maiden's Blush, and Rawle's +Janet. Has tried and discarded Yellow Transparent, Early Harvest, Red +June, Wagener, Willow Twig, Dominie, Roman Stem, Seek-no-further, +Porter, Pound Sweet, Nyack Pippin, and Minkler, because they did not +pay; some blighted and failed to bear. Prefer timber soil, or sandy loam +with open clay subsoil; bottom land is good if it has not a hard-pan +subsoil. Apples will not succeed well planted on ordinary sod, with +impervious subsoil. Plant thrifty two-year-old trees, from four to six +feet high, well branched. Cultivate as long as the tree lives; use +turning plow in spring, and follow with harrow every week during summer +until orchard comes into bearing; then get some tool that will stir the +ground two to three inches deep, and cultivate often. Cultivation pays +better than fertilizer or anything else. He grows small fruit among the +trees, but believes corn the best crop up to eight or nine years; then +grows nothing. Does not think windbreaks essential, and would have none +on the east or north; would not object to windbreak of Russian mulberry, +or other hardy trees, on south and west. For rabbits, he wraps the +trees, and keeps two good beagle hounds. Does not prune, except to keep +watersprouts off, and cuts out limbs that cross. Thinks the wind thins +the fruit sufficiently. Believes the best apples are self-pollenizers, +and need no other varieties near, and that it does not pay to grow +others. Never use any fertilizer. If orchard "runs out," would have +another ready to take its place. Allows no stock in orchard. Is not +troubled with insects. Has sprayed a little for tent-caterpillar. He +digs out borers with a knife. His best market has been at home, selling +by the bushel or wagon-load to farmers who do not grow any. Believes +thorough cultivation better than irrigation. Prevailing prices, +thirty-five to seventy-five cents per bushel. Uses male help, at one +dollar per day without board. + + * * * * * + +S. H. DOMONEY, Aurora, Cloud county: Have been in Kansas ten years. Have +an orchard of ---- trees, planted from twelve to fourteen years, of Ben +Davis, Winesap and Missouri Pippin for market, and Red June, Duchess of +Oldenburg, Cooper's Early White and Kansas Keeper for family use. I +prefer limestone soil with gravelly subsoil, in the bottom, with north +slope, if possible. Prefer trees two years old with low heads. "I like a +tree with a tap-root." Plow deeply and plant in loose soil, thirty feet +apart each way. I grow potatoes and sweet corn for six or seven years, +after which I sow orchard-grass. The best tool for cultivating is a disc +harrow. Growing no crop in the orchard. I think windbreaks are +essential, and prefer Russian mulberry, three rows, planted six by eight +feet apart. I like the mulberry best because they come into leaf early +and hold their foliage late. I prune a little, to thin out and let the +sun in. I believe it would pay to thin fruit on the trees. I use stable +litter, and fertilizer from the hog-pen, and think it pays if not put +too close to the tree. I tried pasturing with hogs, but don't think it +advisable, as they destroy the trees to get apples. I spray some with +London purple after the bloom falls, to destroy canker-worm and +codling-moth, and think I have reduced the latter by such spraying. I +dig borers out. We pick by hand, and sort into very best, second best, +and culls. I sell at retail and to the grocers in Concordia, Kan. I make +some cider, and feed culls to the hogs; never dried any; winter some in +barrels and boxes, and find Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin the best +keepers. I do not irrigate. Use no hired help. Prices have ranged from +fifty cents in summer to eighty cents in winter. + + * * * * * + +H. L. FERRIS, Osage City, Osage county: A citizen of Kansas for +twenty-one years. Have an orchard of 4000 apple trees--200 twenty years, +1800 seventeen years, 2000 sixteen years planted. Prefer, for commercial +purposes, Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin; for family orchard: +Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, Romanite, and Maiden Blush; have +discarded Rawle's Janet. Prefer good upland corn ground, with sand or +gravel subsoil, north and east slope. I plow deep, and plant large +two-year-old trees, shallow, and mound up; shorten roots and branches. +Cultivate with plow and harrow from youth to old age. Grow corn in young +orchard up to six years, afterward nothing. Prefer a windbreak on south, +west, and north, of box-elders, Osage orange, or peach. Rub liver on +trees to repel rabbits, and use a knife for borers. To prune with a +little saw makes the trees grow faster, and the apples grow larger, and +it pays. Use stable and barn-yard litter to fertilize with, and it +pays. Would not allow live stock to run in orchard. Am troubled with +roundheaded borers and codling-moth. Spray in May and June for bitter +rot and fungous diseases. Fight borers with a five-eighths chisel, a +wire, and coal-tar. Pick from step-ladders into tin pails hung to branch +with wire hook; haul in boxes on spring wagon to packing place. Sort on +tables into three grades--first, second, and cider apples; pack into +eleven- or twelve-peck barrels. Sell in all ways; have sold in orchard. +Ship the best; best market in Texas. Send six-inch apples to where they +are scarce; culls I sell cheaply at home, evaporate some, and make +vinegar. Use a Zimmerman evaporator and Eureka parers. Sell dried fruit +at retail, have shipped some; do not think it pays, do not find a ready +market. Store for winter use in boxes in cellar successfully; find +Romanite and Winesap keep best; lose about one-fourth. Have irrigated +some from a pond with an eight-inch hose and steam-power pump. Average +price has been fifty cents per bushel for apples and five cents a pound +for dried apples. Use male help gathering, and female help at dryer, +paying eight to ten cents per hour. + + * * * * * + +A. OBERNDORF, Centralia, Nemaha county: Have lived in Kansas nineteen +years. Have an apple orchard of 4200 trees, from three to twenty years +planted. I am told Ben Davis and Gano are the best apples for commercial +purposes; for family use I would prefer Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, +Duchess of Oldenburg, Maiden's Blush, Ben Davis, Winesap, and Rawle's +Janet. I prefer hilltop with northern slope. I prefer one-year-old, +switch-like trees, set 16x30 feet. I plant young orchards to corn, using +double-shovel and diamond plow, and harrow; plant the bearing orchard to +clover and cease cropping at five years. For rabbits I use paint during +summer and wrap during winter. I also use paint for borers. I prune with +shears and knife to secure an open center; do not think it beneficial. +Never thin apples. I fertilize with barn-yard litter; it seems to +benefit the trees and prolong their fruitfulness. Do not pasture my +orchard. My old trees are affected with flathead borer and leaf-roller. +The codling-moth trouble my apples. I sprayed three seasons; saw no +benefit, so quit. I pick by hand, in a basket. I sort into three +classes: First class, for market; second class, for immediate sale, and +small ones, for cider. I usually sell at the nearest market. Best market +is at home. Never dry any. I store for winter markets in cellar, in +barrels, boxes, and in bulk, and am successful; find that the Winesap +and Rawle's Janet keep best. We have to repack stored apples before +marketing; sometimes lose more than at other times. Do not irrigate. +Price has been fifty cents per bushel. I hire help at one dollar per +day, or twenty dollars per month and board. + + * * * * * + +P. M. HOWARD, Clyde, Cloud county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-six +years; have an apple orchard of 450 trees. For market purposes I prefer +Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Rawle's Janet, and Jonathan; and +for family orchard Ben Davis, Winesap, Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, +Jonathan, and Wealthy. Would prefer a deep loam soil, clay subsoil, if +not too close to the top, and almost level. I prefer two-year-old, +low-head trees with no forks, planted in furrows. I cultivate my orchard +to corn planted east and west as long as I can, using the plow and +cultivator shallow; and cease cropping when the trees so shade the crop +that there is no profit; I grow clover or weeds in a bearing orchard, +and mow and leave on the ground for a mulch. Windbreaks are essential; I +would make them of Osage orange planted in rows 2x4 or 2x6 feet. For +rabbits I wrap the trees with corn-stalks, and for borers I mulch and +keep the trees growing. I prune my trees when planted; I think it +beneficial. I never thin the fruit on the trees. I fertilize my orchard +with anything of a coarse nature that is not easily disturbed; I would +advise its use on all soils, unless very rich, deep clay soil; in such +soil perhaps clean cultivation would be all that is necessary. I would +add that my observations and experiences have taught me that the people +of Kansas have lost millions of dollars from and through lack of knowing +what we should have known. I think that the State Horticultural Society +is doing a great and good work with _limited_ appropriations. I have +never seen any one yet who read the reports from the horticultural +department but what was in full sympathy with your labors, but wondered +why more reports were not sent out. I think our legislators should be +more wise; consequently, more liberal in their appropriations for the +work and distribution of the same, not only to the farmers, but to +people in towns and cities; their needs are in proportion as great as +the farmers'. + +As to the fruit business: On the southeast quarter of section 26, +township 4, range 1, is one of the _best_ orchards I know of in Republic +county (not the largest). It consists of about 450 apple trees, also +peaches, cherries, pears, and grapes. Myself, little girls and wife +planted it. I wish to tell you how every one of the different fruits +have abundantly paid for labor and all cost, and left their owners a +fair profit. The soil of this successful orchard is a black loam, upland +prairie, clay subsoil; loam eighteen inches to two feet deep, previously +cultivated in corn and potatoes, plowed, not listed. Lay of land: Two +slight ridges; a wide draw; slope east and west. Trees more vigorous and +bear as well in draw as on upland. Varieties: Ben Davis, Missouri +Pippin, Jonathan, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, Maiden's Blush, mostly the +first four. Planting: Distance, thirty by thirty feet, furrowed out with +a fourteen-inch plow, running two furrows across each way. Cleaned out +all loose dirt to make room for all roots to spread without turning up. +The little girls held the trees, tops leaning to the southwest about +five degrees. I covered the roots well, tramped firmly, and filled with +loose earth. Leave furrows so as to hold water on upper side of tree. +After all trees were out I gave each one a slight mulch of sorghum +refuse. Cultivation: Crop always corn; rows running east and west. Rows +far enough from trees so horses or singletrees would not touch them. +Cultivate shallow, with one horse, and light plow with very short +singletree. Pruned some. All limbs where cut off were painted. Cut close +and smooth; wounds healed readily. Tried to prune so that air and sun +would go through and not against the trees. Pinch off all water or +tender sprouts. + +To protect from rabbits and borers I stand corn-stalks running clear up +to branches around body; tie at top and bottom; keep trees low, a little +heavier on southwest side. I believe with thorough cultivation and stalk +protection we would hear of less borers. All mulch was kept away from +bodies of trees. I believe it all nonsense not to prune, but it should +be done while they are young. My observation has been all my life that a +well-balanced tree is longer lived, has more bushels of fruit, of better +quality, smoother limbs and trunks. So I would say if you do not intend +to protect the bodies of your young trees and prune do not buy or plant +them; it does not do to sow oats, wheat, rye, millet or any grain crops +in your orchard. It is an easy way to keep weeds down and a sure way to +kill your orchard. It does not pay to pasture even with calves; chickens +are at all times beneficial; hogs after your orchard has matured so the +trees can resist the hog, when he rubs against them, which the hog is +sure to do, and perhaps he will pull some of the lower limbs. I have +never sprayed, but firmly believe it profitable. Next year I expect to +plant out a new orchard and cultivate along the line of the one I have +told about, with such help as I can get from the horticultural +department. + + * * * * * + +D. S. HAINES, Edwardsville, Wyandotte county: Has been in Kansas +twenty-six years; has 3000 apple trees from two to twenty-five years +old. Commercial varieties, Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, and +Willow Twig; and for family use, Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, Maiden's +Blush, Jonathan, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Rawle's Janet, Celestia, and +Winesap. Has tried and discarded Bellflower, Pennock, Baldwin, McAfee's +Nonesuch and others for barrenness. Best location, hilltop, sandy loam +with clay subsoil--any slope will do. Plants either in fall or spring, +two-year-old thrifty trees, fifteen by thirty feet apart, a little +deeper than they stood in the nursery. Grows corn, potatoes, cabbage, +etc., well cultivated, among the trees, but not to crowd them, for five +or six years. Uses a spading harrow where no crop is grown. After six +years sows to clover. Needs no windbreaks in his section. Traps and +shoots rabbits. Takes borers out with knife. Prunes very little; cuts +out dead or broken limbs, as they are no good, and take up room. Never +has thinned apples on the trees, but believes it would be all right. +Sees no difference in fruitfulness if trees are in blocks of a kind or +mixed up. Would use barn-yard litter, but not close to the trees; +believes in it on all soils. Does not pasture, and thinks it would not +pay. Is troubled with borers, tent-caterpillars, leaf-rollers, +leaf-crumblers, and codling-moths. Never sprays. Picks in sacks. Packs +in orchard, in twelve-peck barrels well pressed. Uses table for sorting +(described elsewhere) and makes Nos. 1, 2 and 3 grades. Marks name of +variety and own name on barrel head. Sells his best in car lots at +wholesale, the culls to peddlers. Generally markets at Kansas City. Has +tried distant markets and made it pay. Never dried any. Stores for +winter in barrels in cold store; not always satisfactory; thinks the +cold-storage business not yet fully understood; says Ben Davis and +Jonathan keep best. Sometimes repacks, at a loss of one-tenth to +one-sixth. Does not irrigate. Prices have ranged from two to five +dollars per barrel. Paid last year one dollar per day to men who could +do a good day's work. + + * * * * * + +E. M. GRAY, Perry, Jefferson county: I have lived in Kansas forty years; +my orchard of twenty acres has been planted twenty years. For market, I +prefer Ben Davis and Jonathan on poor land; and Missouri Pippin and +Winesap on rich land. For family orchard, Early Harvest, Red June, +Winesap, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Missouri Pippin, and Huntsman's +Favorite. Have tried and discarded Grimes's Golden Pippin, Lawver, +Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Huntsman's Favorite; they are not +profitable, are too small when grown on poor land. I prefer yellow clay +bottom, with an east, south or northern aspect. I prefer large, healthy, +two-year-old trees, planted with a lister, subsoil plow, and spade. I +cultivate my orchard to corn, small fruit, potatoes and nursery stock +seven years, with a cutaway disc harrow, and cease cropping after eight +years; I plant nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; +would make them of Russian mulberry, Osage orange, or cedars, by +planting two rows of them on the south and west sides of the orchard. +For rabbits I keep a shot-gun and dogs. I do not prune; don't think it +beneficial. I do not thin my apples while on the tree, but think it +would pay. My trees are in mixed plantings; my Ben Davis are fuller and +redder planted close by Jonathan and Winesap. I do not fertilize my +orchard, but think it would be beneficial, and would advise its use on +all exhausted soils in old orchards. Do not pasture my orchard; would +not advise it, don't think it would pay. My trees are troubled with +flathead borers, and my apples with curculio. I do not spray. I dig +borers out with a knife. + +Pick my apples by hand; have light-weight men climb the trees and pick +in meal sacks, then lay on tables. Sort into two classes: First, +perfect, well colored, smooth, and good size; second, wormy, fair, and +small size. Pack in three-bushel barrels, well rounded up; mark the +variety of apples on the barrel with a stencil; haul to market on a +hay-frame wagon. I sell in the orchard, wholesale, retail, and peddle; +sell the best to highest bidder; sell the culls to driers or ship South +or West. My best markets are where apples are scarcest. Do not dry any; +it does not pay. Don't store any; I have to repack stored apples before +marketing, losing about one-twelfth of them. Do not irrigate. Prices +have been from $2 to $2.75 per barrel; dried apples, five cents per +pound. I employ men at seventy-five cents per day. Apple-growing in +Kansas, on high prairie land, is not very profitable to the grower, +unless he has a good windbreak on south and west sides of his orchard. +In 1880 I planted twenty acres of apples trees of many varieties; Ben +Davis and Jonathan were the only ones that paid me on high land. In 1895 +I planted thirty acres to apples; fifteen acres on upland and fifteen +acres on second bottom, sloping east and north. On the upland I put +nothing but Ben Davis and Jonathan; on the bottom I planted Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, Mammoth Black Twig, Gano, Winesap, and +Jonathan--cross-fertilizing the Ben Davis every fifth row with the +Mammoth Black Twig, Jonathan, and Winesap. I believe that +cross-fertilization is beneficial to an orchard in making fruit more +plentiful, larger, smoother, better color and quality. It is believed by +many that Ben Davis, Jonathan and Winesap are self-fertilizers, and +don't require crossing; that being the case, they should have the cross +near by, in order to not decrease the species or run it out. Professor +Darwin says self-fertilization is abhorrent to nature, and the same rule +that applies to small fruits is equally applicable to apples. Why not? + +Fruits and premium awards are my best advertisers. I have succeeded in +carrying off most of the awards in every show I exhibited at, and have +premiums on file to show for some. All my fruits are set for +cross-fertilization, and I shall continue to set that way. Many have +said and will say they see no difference; perhaps they are not close +observers, and have given the subject little study. I have given the +subject twenty-five years' study and experience, and think I am not +mistaken. I think there is more money to be made on our high upland in +pears, small fruits, and stone fruits. They pay me better than apples. +The Grimes's Golden Pippin would be a good apple to grow if the trees +did not die after two or three crops. The Lawver apples fail to hang on +the trees. The Missouri Pippin will not stand up on our high land unless +surrounded by windbreaks; they look here like a Kansas cyclone had +passed through them--the limbs all blew off last fall. Winesaps fall off +badly, and are affected with bitter rot. For trial purposes, I recommend +Mammoth Black Twig, Gano, and York Imperial. + + * * * * * + +Dr. J. STAYMAN, Leavenworth, Leavenworth county: We came to Kansas +thirty-nine years ago, and traveling over the eastern portion of the +state selected Leavenworth as the most desirable point to commence tree +and fruit-growing. We were then engaged in that business in Illinois, +and had collected over 1000 varieties of apples, which we brought to +Kansas; among them were nearly all the leading varieties then grown and +many new and rare kinds of local reputation. Our object in making this +collection was to grow them side by side, under the same conditions, to +ascertain their value. In 1860 we set an orchard of a few hundred trees, +consisting of about seventy varieties, two years old. Among them were +Ben Davis, Winesap, York Imperial, Willow Twig, Rambo, Rawle's Janet, +White Pippin, and Jonathan, and the leading apples generally grown, +including summer and fall varieties. At the same time we set out about +1000 root grafts in a nursery. We then collected over 1000 more [scions] +and top-grafted them [into standard trees], to get the fruit sooner. +Over 1000 of these were received from the late Charles Downing. From +this collection, and from specimens of fruit received, we have been able +to accurately describe over 2200 varieties, with an outline cut of each, +with seeds and core and all other characteristics. And to ascertain what +effect climate had upon each variety, we kept an accurate meteorological +record of the weather. This we furnished to the Smithsonian Institution, +Washington, D. C., for ten years. We also grew the leading varieties on +an elevation 400 feet higher, and on various aspects not over two miles +apart, and learned what effect elevation and aspect had upon the bearing +quality of different varieties. + +For commercial orchard I prefer Stayman, Winesap, York Imperial, +Jonathan, and White Pippin. It will be noticed that in the commercial +list we omitted Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Gano, and Willow Twig. These +varieties are all productive and profitable, but we believe the time has +come (or soon will be) that the public will demand something better, and +to meet this demand we have made the change; but to those who do not +believe in progress the above varieties will prove at least productive, +if not so profitable as in the past. In making out the list of apples we +have hesitated somewhat in heading the list with Stayman, not from any +doubt about the apple, but from the fact that it is not generally known; +but this objection can be made against any apple when first introduced. +The following is the description we gave twenty-one years ago in our +fruit notes: "Fruit large, heavy, form oblate conic, regular; color +greenish yellow; mostly covered, splashed and striped with dark red; +flesh yellow, firm, fine, tender, juicy, rich, mild, aromatic, subacid; +quality good to best; season January to May. Seedling of Winesap; bore +the ninth year from the seed." After fruiting this apple over twenty +years we can add the following: It is a strong grower, has a darker +leaf, is a better bearer, hangs on the tree better, is of larger size, +is of much better quality, and will keep better than Winesap. Charles +Downing gave a similar description of this apple in his appendix. +[Stayman Winesap.] R. J. Black, of Ohio, one of the best-posted +pomologists, who has fruited it for years, puts it at the head of both +the commercial and family lists, and says: "It has all the qualities of +the Winesap without any of its faults." Prof. H. E. Van Deman, who has +fruited it and seen it fruited in Delaware, puts it at the head of the +list, and writes in respect to the change of name: "Stayman (apple) is +worth almost a lifetime to produce." "Now, I have been so impressed with +its coming value and popularity, that I have thought it ought to be +shortened in name to _Stayman_." J. W. Kerr, of Delaware, says: "It is +superior to its parent, the Winesap, in size, color, flavor, and keeping +quality. The tree is more vigorous in growth. After several years' +fruiting, I have no hesitation in saying it is the finest all-round +winter apple that has come under my notice." Professor Heiges writes us +about the same in substance. Prof G. H. Powell, of the Delaware +Experiment Station, says: "In quality it equals the Northern Spy, and is +in season from October to May." We could give many quotations of equal +value from _Rural New Yorker_, _Green's Fruit Grower_, and _National +Stockman and Farmer_. + +Since writing the above we find the following in the last-named paper of +May 26: "One variety, Stayman, mentioned frequently in these columns, a +seedling raised by our correspondent, Dr. J. Stayman, of Kansas, from +the old Winesap, receives special commendation. It is remarkable that, +in the wide section of country between Kansas and Delaware, in Ohio, +Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Missouri, wherever this variety has been +tried, it has developed the same excellences of size, quality, and +keeping, as well as of vigor and productiveness. Lovers of choice apples +will not fail to make a note of this." Winesap we place second on the +list, after a fair trial of over thirty-five years side by side with Ben +Davis. Give it good soil and high cultivation and but few apples will +excel it. York Imperial we place third. It is not of the highest +quality, but it is better than Ben Davis, and will keep in a common +cellar, and command a high price. It is very productive in alternate +years, and a hardy tree. Although we introduced this apple into the +state thirty-eight years ago, yet its commercial value is scarcely +known. Jonathan, perhaps, should stand at the head of the list for its +great beauty, fine quality, and productiveness; but it matures so early, +drops so badly, keeps so poorly, and requires so much care in handling, +that we hesitate doing so. It is, however, a very profitable apple when +well handled, and cannot be omitted, as no other in its season equals +it. White Pippin: This apple of unknown origin and seldom mentioned +should be better known, as it is far superior to the famous Newtown or +Albemarle Pippin of the same type. We have had it in bearing on high and +low land as long as any other apple, and find it very productive in +alternate years, of the best quality, and bringing the best price. It +keeps better, drops less, is of larger size, equal in quality, and will +bring as high a price, where known, as the Jonathan. In a commercial +orchard there should be few, if any, fall or summer varieties, unless +favorably located; they should be of the best shipping and market +varieties, as Early Ripe, Duchess of Oldenburg, Orange Pippin, Cooper's +Early White, Jefferis, Muster, and Dr. Watson. These are all early +bearers, very productive and salable, and of fine quality for table or +kitchen. Those best for a family orchard are Stayman, Winesap, Jonathan, +White Pippin, Mason's Orange, Summer Extra, Garretson's Early, Summer +Pearmain, Early Joe, Jefferis, Early Ripe, Duchess of Oldenburg, Dr. +Watson, Muster, and Wagener; and for sweet apples there are none better +than Broadwell, Ramsdell, Superb, Baltzby, and Mountaineer. + +All these apples are early bearers, productive, and fine for family use, +and we cannot well discard any; but eight or ten trees, of summer and +fall varieties together, are enough to supply the largest family. It is +better, however, to plant one of each variety, that we may have a +succession of fruit throughout the season; also, if one variety should +fail, others might not. It would require a very long list to name all we +have tried and discarded, but we will name some: Rawle's Janet we +reject, as it runs too small and cracks badly; Ben Davis, Missouri +Pippin, Willow Twig, Gano, Arkansas Black and Mammoth Black Twig are all +productive, but of poor quality; Maiden's Blush, Lowell, Porter, Rome +Beauty, Western Beauty, Fulton, Trenton Early, Cole's Quince, and many +others, because they ripen too irregularly and drop too badly. The White +Winter Pearmain, Lawver, McAfee and Kansas Keeper blight badly and are +not sure bearers; Early Harvest and Red Astrachan are not hardy; Summer +Rose, Early Strawberry and Benoni are fine, but too small; Primate, +Chenango and Gulley of Pennsylvania are too tender to handle; Smith's +Cider, Hay's Wine, Fallawater, Scott's Best and Nonpareil Russet are +productive, but ripen early and are not profitable. Many Southern winter +varieties are too small, such as Haley, Gully, Kittageskee, and Harris. +Few if any Eastern winter apples are of any value here, as Northern Spy, +Baldwin, Canada Red, Swaar, Sutton Beauty and Melon all ripen too early, +and become poor, dry, fall apples. It is the same with all Northern +apples, from whatever source or locality. It is a mistake to think we +can find a winter apple adapted to Kansas that originated north of +Kansas, under a lower mean temperature. This we have fully demonstrated +beyond the possibility of a doubt. + +Early apples require a specific amount of heat to bring them to maturity +from the time the fruit forms. If brought from a colder climate to a +warmer one, you hasten its growth and accelerate its maturity just in +proportion to the difference in mean temperature of the two localities, +and consequently it ripens in the fall here. I prefer hilltop for +quality, keeping, and color, and bottom for size. Hilltop and steep +bluffs are the best for all kinds of winter apples, as they produce the +richest fruit, with the finest color, and they keep the best and are not +so subject to injurious pests. Fifty feet of abrupt elevation is equal +in its effect to fifty miles of latitude south on frosty nights. It +retards spring growth as much as forty miles north. An elevation of 400 +feet makes a difference of from ten to twenty-five per cent. in the +amount of saccharine matter in fruit, to which rich quality, fine flavor +and aroma are due. Bottom land produces the largest apples, more murky +in color and more irregular in bearing. Rolling, intermediate Kansas +land will prove satisfactory. East and south slopes hasten the maturity +of fruit, and are the best for early varieties; a northern slope retards +the ripening of fruit and is the best for winter apples. The best +specimens of apples we ever saw in Kansas grew on a northern bench about +thirty feet below the top of an elevation of 400 feet, on good, rich, +well-drained soil. They were large in size, clear in color, and perfect +in form. We prefer any good soil that will produce a good corn crop, +with a well-drained clay subsoil; mucky, wet or hard-pan soils are not +fit for fruit. Land that produces a good crop of wheat is rich enough. +We have seen a very heavy crop of York Imperial at its native home on +quite thin freestone land. Almost any of the land in Leavenworth county +is naturally rich enough if we only keep it so. + +I prefer two-year-old untrimmed trees, set in furrows made with a +two-horse plow, no deeper than we plant the trees, but wide enough to +take in the roots. We set them about two inches deeper than they stood +in the nursery, on the solid subsoil, and pack the dirt firmly amongst +the roots; lean or set the heaviest top to the southwest. The largest +and heaviest roots, if convenient, should be in the same direction. +After filling the hole, bank up a steep mound of earth around the tree. +If this is properly done no ordinary wind will ever move it. We prefer +two-year-old or strong one-year-old trees, because they can be set more +rapidly, cost less labor, less money, live better, and grow more stocky. +We want them taken up with care, give no pruning whatever, neither "cut +their tops in to balance the roots," when planting in orchard. Trees +that are taken up when young and set out in an open orchard without +pruning grow stronger and more stocky, bear sooner, and are less subject +to blight, sun-scald, and the attack of flathead and roundhead borers. +We have root-grafted as many as 500,000 in one season on sections of +roots from two to six inches long with scions from three to twenty +inches long, to see which were the best. Two-inch sections from one-year +roots, grafted with scions about six inches long, set deep enough to +form roots on the stock, are best. This "whole-root graft" is simply a +_humbug_. It is the strength and vigor of seedling roots, not the length +of them, that make the best-rooted trees. No sensible man will pretend +to graft whole seedlings [roots] and set them out in a nursery. It +cannot be done with success. We must cut off a portion of the root to do +it. The question arises, how much? It is then not a whole root, and it +becomes a question what length of root is best. It is not advisable to +bud or graft seedling trees in the nursery, for all seedlings are not of +the same vigor and hardiness; consequently the trees would differ +similarly. + +I plant my orchard to corn, potatoes, garden-truck, and small fruits, +and keep this up, with clean cultivation, using a Planet jr. horse hoe, +until they begin to bear, and cease cropping after ten years, planting +nothing unless the above-mentioned crops or clover in a bearing orchard. +Windbreaks are injurious unless planted at least 200 feet from the +orchard. The best protection is to plant the two outer rows of +fruit-trees close together; they can be cut out, if desired, when they +become too thick. This is better than high-growing shelter trees or +evergreens. We want a free circulation of air to pass among the trees. A +high and heavy protection produces an eddy which blights and sun-scalds +the trees, as well as hastens the ripening and dropping of apples. We +have had no occasion to use any protection from rabbits and borers since +we quit pruning off the lower limbs. Pruning is not thoroughly +understood. Trees are pruned to make them live, grow fast and stocky, +and also slender; to make them bear young, give form, light and air, and +to make them look alike; to bear heavy crops and fine specimens. It is +claimed all this can be done by pruning; it can be accomplished without +pruning in a much shorter time and without extra labor. We do not +recommend pruning apple trees at any times excepting _after_ the trees +are well established in the orchard; then the lower limbs _may_ be +gradually removed to form the head, about two feet from the ground; but +the longer we allow them to remain the heavier and stockier they become; +for the body of the tree increases in size just in proportion to the +amount of foliage on the lower limbs. We prune off dead, broken and +sucker limbs, and have no objections to taking off limbs that chafe each +other (if this should happen from neglect). We have lost more trees from +pruning than from all other causes together. We have seen large orchards +just in their prime that have been so injured from pruning that they +never recovered. On the other hand, I have seen orchards that were so +neglected, dilapidated and crowded that I thought a thorough pruning +would make them more productive. I never thin the fruit on the trees; it +is not necessary. + +Pollination is no doubt an important factor in productiveness, size, +quality, and form. We have had no opportunity to test the result with +apples, as our varieties are all mixed up together. We would not plant +in an orchard large blocks of any variety excessively; better have them +intermixed with other varieties that bloom at the same time. The pollen +of one variety may be congenial to some, while it may be neglected +[repelled] by another; we will have to learn this by experience, or +plant a less number of varieties together. We have little experience yet +in planting large orchards of few kinds. Perhaps none of these varieties +that are esteemed so highly are congenial to each other. We had better +go slow about planting out 10,000 to 20,000 of one kind together. We may +have gone too far now. We do not use any fertilizer for our trees only +as we crop the land. The virgin soil of our county does not need +fertilizing if planted in orchard until the tree comes into bearing, +except we crop the land. It is, however, a mistake to think we can grow +an orchard and crop the ground at the same time, without any injury to +the orchard, unless we restore the lost fertility in some way. Orchards +so exhaust the soil in about sixteen years' cropping that it is worth +little afterwards. "It is estimated that an acre of apples in good +bearing removes annually about forty-nine pounds of nitrogen, +thirty-eight pounds of phosphoric acid, and seventy-two pounds of +potash. If the fertility and productiveness of the orchard is to be kept +up, these fertilizing elements must be returned in some form." At the +market value of these fertilizing materials, it amounts annually to +about twelve dollars an acre. It is estimated that an orchard will be in +full bearing in about ten years. Then in six years of full bearing it +will have exhausted the soil to the amount of seventy-two dollars per +acre. Take in consideration the previous cropping of ten years, need we +wonder what is the matter with our orchard? Should we diminish the feed +of a vigorous horse annually for ten years, do you think he could pull +the same load, or be of much value? The nitrogen is the most expensive +element, representing about half of the whole, yet it can be restored to +the soil by crimson or red clover, peas, vetches, beans, cow-peas, or +turnips, which have the ability of converting the free nitrogen of the +air into available plant food. The best method of accomplishing this end +is to grow these crops on the land and plow them under in their green +state at about maturity. I do not pasture my orchard; it is not +advisable and does not pay. My apples are troubled with codling-moth. I +do not spray. For borers, I bank the trees, so that if they deposit +their eggs they can be gotten out easily. + +I pick my apples in baskets and sacks from a ladder, and sort them into +three classes: first, second, and culls. I pack in baskets and barrels; +press them in barrels, and mark with name of variety. I wholesale my +apples in the orchard to dealers; market the best in baskets and +barrels, sell my second and third grades the best way I can, and throw +the culls away. My best market is at home. I never tried distant +markets, and do not dry any. I am successful in storing apples for +winter in boxes and barrels in a cellar, and find Ben Davis, Stayman, +Willow Twig and York Imperial keep best. In storing apples for winter, +they should be picked before they are too ripe and when the weather is +not too hot; when picked they should be taken at once to shade and +packed and stored away in the cool of the evening. They should be well +sorted, packed in tight barrels, and headed up to exclude the light and +air. They will keep longer if each apple is wrapped with paper. The +temperature of your cave or cellar should be reduced as much as possible +by throwing the doors open at night and closing them through the day. A +gradual reduction and a regular temperature is better than a sudden +change. Apples should not be hauled about in the hot sun before storing +them away, neither should they be placed in cold storage at once. The +change is too sudden. It is the same in taking them out of cold storage. +It should not be done at once. A storing room for this purpose should be +provided in every cold-storage plant. I do not have to repack stored +apples if they are sold early, but if not until late we have to repack. +The loss depends upon the variety. I have tried irrigation on a small +scale, but do not irrigate now. Prices have been from fifty cents to two +dollars per barrel. I employ men that are capable of packing apples, +paying from five to ten cents per hour. We seldom hear anything about +fall planting, as if it was a settled fact that the spring was the best +or the only time it could be done successfully. + +All of our trees for the last thirty-eight years have been transplanted +in the fall, excepting the last three years they were set out in the +spring. The difference is decidedly in favor of fall planting; they +start in growth earlier and make a much stronger growth the first +season, and there is a gain of nearly a year in size over those planted +in the spring, and they certainly have lived better. Why should they not +do better? We have more time and less hurry to do the work well, the +ground is in better condition, the trees have more time to callus and +become firmly established. It is often too wet to take the trees up and +transplant them early, and late setting is not advisable. The distance +trees should be set apart is a more important matter than is generally +supposed. Very few ever think how large a tree will grow and the space +it will occupy. Almost every thrifty variety will grow and spread, and +require a foot of space each year; that would be ten feet in ten years +and forty feet in forty years; in other words, the trees will meet in +forty years if set forty feet apart. This holds good in Kansas; +consequently, forty feet apart is too close to plant trees if we expect +an orchard to last that long. Apple trees will bear and be profitable +for that length of time if they have sufficient space, receive proper +care and cultivation, and the fertility of the soil is not allowed to +become exhausted. Many set their trees 16x32 feet for the purpose of +getting a large crop when the trees first come into bearing, with the +intention of cutting out every other row when they crowd, but we fear +very few if any ever think this will have to be done in fifteen years +from the setting or the orchard would be ruined and the land very much +impoverished. It would be much better and more profitable to set the +trees 24x24 feet and cut every other row out in twenty-four years, at +least one way, and if they crowded, both ways, and not crop the land at +all, except to keep up the fertility of the soil. By this method we +could have a good bearing orchard for forty years or longer, which would +pay better than closer planting and cropping the land to pay the +expenses. + + * * * * * + +DAVID BROWN, Richmond, Franklin county: Have lived in Kansas thirty-four +years; have an orchard of 2000 trees, averaging twenty years planted, +composed entirely of Ben Davis, Jonathan, and Winesap; have discarded +everything else. I would plant on nothing but deep upland soil, planting +good yearling trees. I grow no crop in the orchard, and cultivate +thoroughly always with plow and harrow. I have quit pruning, as it kills +the trees. Never pasture the orchard. I spray with London purple for the +canker-worm and codling-moth. Borers I cut out. I always sell at +wholesale to shippers at about eighty cents per barrel. Never dry any or +store any for winter. + + * * * * * + +FRANCIS GOBLE, Leavenworth, Leavenworth county: Have been in Kansas over +forty-three years. I have 13,000 apple trees, ranging in age from last +spring's setting to forty years. For commercial purposes I use Ben +Davis, Winesap, Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, Ingram, Maiden's Blush, +Grimes's Golden Pippin, and Smith's Cider. For family use I would advise +Jonathan, Winesap, Early Harvest, Rambo, and Milam. I have tried and +discarded numerous varieties. I prefer medium to high land, with a clay +and loam soil on a subsoil of clay and sand; any slope is better than +southwest. I have planted trees of all ages, and all look well. I plant +thirty-two feet east and west and sixteen feet north and south. I +believe in thorough cultivation with plow, harrow, etc., as long as the +orchard lives. Sometimes the orchard requires a certain kind of +cultivation, at other times a different cultivation. In a young orchard +I usually grow corn, potatoes, wheat, melons, or pumpkins. In a bearing +orchard I usually grow nothing, though sometimes I take a crop of millet +or pumpkins from the ground. I cease cropping entirely at from five to +seven years. Windbreaks are not necessary here; they make their own +windbreak if kept thoroughly cultivated and full of life. Thorough +protection will largely prevent borers; if any are found in the tree I +remove them with a knife and wire. For rabbits I wrap with paper or +other material. + +I prune with a saw to keep down surplus wood growth and improve the +quality of the apples. It is beneficial if carefully done, a little +every spring and not much at once. I believe thinning will pay when the +trees are abnormally full. Remove as nearly as possible all defective +fruit when half grown, and what is left will be of higher grade in size, +color, and quality. I believe a decomposed stable fertilizer is +necessary on some soils. Better not pasture with any stock whatever; I +do not think it advisable; I think the profit (?) would be an expensive +one. Am troubled somewhat with canker-worm, bud moth, borers, +leaf-rollers, codling-moth, curculio, and gouger. I sprayed one year for +insects generally with London purple through the spring season, and do +not think it was a success. I pick about as Judge Wellhouse does, and +sort into three classes; the best we make firsts, the best half of the +balance we call seconds, and the balance are simply culls. We pack in +barrels and haul to market with wagons provided with racks holding +sixteen barrels each. I sell my best apples at wholesale, but have never +sold them in the orchard; the second grade I sell to groceries and +peddlers; the culls I sell to anybody, usually in the orchard. I have +never tried distant markets. I never dry any. I store for winter in a +cold store built for the purpose on my own farm, which has been +described in the paper. I have also tried artificial cold storage, and +the Jonathans kept well. [See Cold Store.] + + * * * * * + +E. P. DIEHL, Olathe, Johnson county: I have lived in Kansas thirty +years; have an apple orchard of 700 trees, twenty inches in diameter, +twenty-nine years old. For market I prefer York Imperial, Jonathan, +Winesap, and Ben Davis, and for family orchard Early Harvest, Maiden's +Blush, Winesap, and York Imperial. Have tried and discarded Bellflower, +Dominie, Pennsylvania Red Streak, and White Winter Pearmain. I prefer +hilltop with a mulatto limestone soil, northeast aspect. Would plant +two-year-old trees, forty feet apart. I plant my orchard to corn and +potatoes for five years, using a cultivator; cease cropping after six +years; plant nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; I +would make them of trees, planted on the south, west, and north. I prune +with a knife and saw; think it beneficial. I thin the fruit on my trees +the latter part of May, and think it pays. My trees are in mixed +plantings. I fertilize my orchard; think it beneficial and that it pays. +Pasture my orchard very little, late in the fall, with horses; think it +advisable and that it pays. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, +tent-caterpillar, bud moth, root aphis, bagworm, flathead borer, +roundhead borer, woolly aphis, twig-borer, and oyster-shell bark-louse; +and my apples with codling-moth. I spray with London purple, using a +force-pump, and think I have reduced the codling-moth. Those insects not +affected by spraying I dig out with knife and wire. I hand-pick my +apples from a step-ladder into a sack with a hoop in the mouth. Sort +into three classes: first, second, and third; pack by hand in +three-bushel barrel, mark with stencil, and ship by rail. I sell my +apples in the orchard, wholesale and retail. Sell my best ones to apple +dealers. Sell my second- and third-grade apples at the stores; make +vinegar of the culls. I have dried apples with an American dryer with +satisfaction; after dry, pack in barrels; we find a ready market for +them and think it pays. I store apples for winter in bulk in a cave and +am successful; I find York Imperial and Rawle's Janet keep best. We have +to repack stored apples before marketing, losing about twenty per cent. +of them. I do not irrigate. I get six cents per pound for dried apples. +I employ men at $1.25 per day. + +In the growing of apples in Kansas many things are to be well +considered. That injunction of Davy Crockett's must be kept constantly +in view to be successful: "Be sure you're right, then go ahead." First, +to select varieties that are well adapted to your soil; next, location; +last but not least, the preparation of the soil and future care. Many of +the varieties that are well adapted to the Eastern states are +unprofitable here. Another great mistake is the planting of too many +varieties. When I first came to this state thirty years ago, I consulted +Col. A. S. Johnson, now of Topeka. From him I obtained a great deal of +valuable information, he having had thirty-six years of Kansas +experience. I should, no doubt, have planted many that I did not, owing +to the information obtained of him; so it may be seen that, by proper +care, experience, and observation, we may be of benefit to the rising +generation. Having selected your varieties by consulting the published +fruit list of the Kansas State Horticultural Society, next select your +location. Select, if you can, the highest northern slope; next east, +next west. Put your ground in good order by plowing and subsoiling at +least fifteen inches deep. Should there be any tenacious soil or spouty +places, tile with four-inch tile, forty feet apart, three feet deep. A +great mistake is made by many in planting too closely. I have trees +twenty-eight years old, forty feet from tip to tip. Plant to some +cultivated crop for six years, then seed to clover; trim your trees each +February; keep the borers out, and if they do get into your trees hunt +them out; spray your trees frequently at the proper time to prevent the +noxious insects from getting the start of you, and when your trees +commence to bear commence to fertilize by turning under clover and +stable litter. Horace Greeley once said: "You might as well expect milk +from a cow tied to a stake as apples from an orchard uncared for." + + * * * * * + +A. MUNGER, Hollis, Cloud county: I have lived in Kansas fifteen years; +have an apple orchard of seventy-five trees twelve inches in diameter, +eighteen feet high, seventeen years old. I prefer for market Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, and, to a limited extent, Yellow Transparent and +Grimes's Golden Pippin, and for a family orchard add Early Harvest and +Maiden's Blush. Have tried and discarded the Willow Twig on account of +blight and rot. I prefer bottom land, with a loose subsoil, and young +and stocky trees. I plant my orchard to potatoes, beans and vines for +ten years, and use a cultivator that keeps three inches very mellow, and +cease cropping when impossible to cultivate. I grow weeds in the orchard +and mow them. Windbreaks are not essential, but are very desirable; +would make them of Osage orange, Russian mulberries, or box-elder. Set +the first row four feet apart, the second six inches, and never trim; +the third six feet. For rabbits I use traps and gun. I hunt the borers +and encourage the birds. I prune my trees so as to give air and +sunshine; think it pays. Do not thin the fruit while on the trees. My +apples are in mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard in the winter with +stable litter fresh from the stable; it appears to do good, and would +advise its use, with judgment, on all soils. I pasture my orchard with +hogs and calves. I do not think it advisable among young trees. My trees +are troubled with leaf-roller, and my fruit with codling-moth. I spray +just after the blossom falls, with Paris green, for the codling-moth. +Prices have been from 25 cents to $1 per bushel. What the future of +apple-growing in northern central Kansas may be, it is of course +impossible to tell, but from the success of the few orchards that have +been planted, and after being planted have received some attention +besides that bestowed by calves and pigs, it would seem well worth a +trial. There are years when the best attention possible cannot prevent +damage and some loss from drought, especially on upland. For this reason +bottom land would seem more suitable for an orchard in this county, even +though subject to some disadvantages. In some orchards on low land only +a few feet above the water-level, where a sandy subsoil admits of a free +natural subirrigation, the thrift and productiveness of the trees have +been unusually good. Cold seems to be dreaded less than hot, dry weather +in the latter part of the summer, although late spring frosts sometimes +do damage. Even the traditional "north slope" might have its advantages +somewhat balanced in this county by the valley lands that retain a large +amount of moisture. + +A good soil with a loose subsoil that holds the greatest possible amount +of water are the most important requirements as to location. If the +cultivation is then such as to save the water of early summer rains to +the best advantage until the dry weather of the late summer comes, it +will be drawn upon, and some very dry seasons may be tided over without +much loss. Plowing in the spring and very frequent shallow cultivation +afterwards are, as yet, the best known means to this end; and as a +general rule they are sufficient to answer every purpose as far west as +central Kansas, without artificial watering, as the average rainfall +shows; but if the early rains are allowed to go to waste by falling on +the hard ground and running directly off, or by rapid evaporation from +an undisturbed surface, where capillary force is rapidly carrying back +to the surface what has already soaked in, we invite ultimate failure +when the drought comes. Cultivate once a week, or after each rain, when +they come oftener than that, with something that will keep two or three +inches of very fine, mellow earth on the surface, and will cause an +amount of water to be retained in the soil below the earth mulch that +will surprise any one who has never tried it. An ordinary harrow will do +very well, or better a five-tooth cultivator, behind which I fasten a +2x4 scantling with large wire nails driven through it, about two inches +apart, weighted on the back edge to keep it right side up; the scantling +is cut as long as the width of the cultivator. At one operation the +cultivator and this harrow leave the ground about like a hand-rake +would, marked only by the footprints of the driver. Last summer this was +used several times where young peach trees had been set out, going +around each row and sometimes over the entire ground. There was no time +during the summer that the trees stopped growing or showed signs of +needing more moisture than they had. Nine hundred and ninety-four lived, +the horses killed two, and the borers two more. Fifteen years ago I +bought a small farm having on it a small family orchard of seventy-two +apple trees. It included several varieties, from summer to winter sorts. + +The trees were 28x28 feet apart, with peach trees alternating both ways, +making three times as many peaches as apples in the orchard. The land +was cultivated until the trees were ten years old, then sowed to timothy +and clover. The timothy soon died out; but the clover lived for a few +years, but is gone now. It happened that some of the years that it was +not cultivated were some of the driest during the fifteen, and several +trees died of blight. Would this have happened if the cultivation had +been continued? I have gone to plowing and cultivating again, anyway, +with no crop in the orchard. The trees are now fifteen or twenty feet +high, and about twelve inches in diameter at the ground. The peach trees +have mostly been cut out. Cannot see that they did any harm, unless it +might have been harder on the apple trees during the dry season; but if +it was, the peaches were worth about as much as the apples, and the +trees make a quick, bushy growth, thus forming a shelter for the apple +trees, which now stand straight and are well balanced. We have had a +peach crop about half of the years. Potatoes, beans and vine crops were +raised in the orchard the first few years. It was surrounded by a +windbreak of cottonwood and box-elder trees, several rows, seven feet +apart each way. This is certainly very beneficial; but Russian +mulberries grow as well, make a thicker top, and at the same time invite +birds to keep up their quarters there and make their homes with us, "a +consummation devoutly to be wished." Osage orange, planted the same as +for a hedge and never cut back, will make a better windbreak than +cottonwood or box-elder, and a fence at the same time. + +This orchard has borne variable crops, some good, some light, but always +fruits. It is on bottom land sloping very slightly to the southeast; +soil a sandy loam with a clay subsoil. It has been pruned considerably, +but not very much at a time. One man in this county who succeeds well +with apples never prunes, except to keep the center open to sun and air. +Another near him gave his orchard a severe trimming a few years ago, and +had no fruit, but some dead trees for two or three years afterward. In +planting, the ground should be well plowed, then mark off one way with a +plow or lister. Twice to the row with the lister, with three or four +horses, and the subsoiler well down, will make a very good preparation +for small trees without much digging, and small trees are best for +several reasons: they are cheaper, less work to set out, and more likely +to live. Set stakes to go by, and, in planting, cross the furrows. We +have just finished setting 2000 peach trees in this way, and very little +digging was needed. Then cultivate well and often. Rub off shoots that +start where limbs are not wanted, and start an evenly balanced top of +four or five limbs. A year after the trees are set out, if any of them +are leaning much, dig away the dirt on the side from which they lean, +and set them up straight, tramping the dirt well on the opposite side. + +With winter will come the rabbits, and they will girdle the trees if not +prevented. Many and varied are the sure cures for them, but none are +perfect. A wash of ordinary whitewash and a pint of sulphur to the +bucketful, applied with a brush or swab to the bodies of the trees, +generally stops their work, but if the rain washes it off it must be put +on again or they will resume operations. A little coal-oil added to the +whitewash prevents the rain from having so much effect on it; make it +thin, so it will not scale off so badly. Two applications have been +enough for our young trees the past winter. We also use traps which are +very similar to the Wellhouse traps, described in the Kansas State +Horticultural Report for 1897. Tarred paper, corn-stalks, veneering, +screen wire, cloth tied around the trees, or a woven-wire fence around +the entire orchard, are all among the practical means used to fence +against rabbits; but don't try the plan of one of my neighbors, unless +you have too many trees; he applied coal-tar; it kept the rabbits off, +and his orchard is now a treeless corn-field. + +During winter we haul manure direct from the stable and spread under the +trees (not against them) out as far as the ends of the limbs. On good +ground I would not do much of this until the trees get to bearing, as it +would interfere somewhat with cultivation and would not be needed, but +when a good annual crop is taken from the orchard something must be +returned, or the supply is going to run out. On thin land rotten manure +applied when the trees are small will do them good. Pasturing an orchard +at any time is of doubtful expediency; it is safer not to. I have +sprayed but once. That was done just after the blossoms fell, and again +ten days later. There were fewer wormy apples than usual. That was last +year. Think I will try it further. + +For a home orchard Early Harvest, Yellow Transparent, Maiden's Blush, +Grimes's Golden Pippin, Winesap, Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis do well +here and keep up a supply from first to last. For commercial planting +Ben Davis is perhaps best here as elsewhere. Missouri Pippin does well; +Winesap bears enormously, but is too small, and gets smaller as the +trees get older. There is a good local demand here for Grimes's Golden +Pippin and a few of any very early variety. Willow Twig has been +worthless on account of blight and rot. Encourage birds by every means, +and never let one, or a nest, be disturbed, unless it is that +belligerent little alien, the English sparrow. They are at war with all +the feathered tribe, even with their own relations, and should be +exterminated. Don't begrudge birds a few feeds of cherries and berries, +when they work for nothing and board themselves nearly all the year. + + * * * * * + +A. H. BUCKMAN, Topeka, Shawnee county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-eight years; have an apple-orchard of 1000 trees two to +twenty-six years old. For market I prefer Maiden's Blush, Jonathan, +Winesap, Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Huntsman's Favorite; and for a +family orchard White Juneating (the earliest apple known), Red June, +Early Ripe, Duchess of Oldenburg, Sweet June, Fulton Strawberry, +Cooper's Early White, Smokehouse, Maiden's Blush, Grimes's Golden +Pippin, Jonathan, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, Ben Davis, Ramsdell Sweet, +Roman Stem, and Red Romanite. I have tried and discarded King, on +account of rot, falls early, water core, short-lived; Kansas Keeper, on +account of blight, poor tree; Yellow Bellflower, on account of being a +shy bearer and rot; Willow Twig, on account of blight; Lansingburg, on +account of blight when the tree is young; R. I. Greening, on account of +its falling early, and rot. Baldwin, falls early and rots. Lawver, no +good on my soil. McAfee's Nonsuch, poor bearer. Rambo, not acclimated. +Northern Spy, rots. Pryor's Red, ripens unevenly, and is affected with +scab. Dominie, there are many better of its season. Esopus Spitzenburg, +rots badly. Rome Beauty, good some seasons. Ohio Nonpareil, poor bearer, +falls before ripe. Lowell, blights while trees are young. Winter Swaar, +rots before perfectly ripe. Autumn Swaar, good of its season, and should +have a place in the family orchard. York Imperial, poor quality; rots +too bad for commercial purposes. American Summer Pearmain, shy bearer +while young. White Winter Pearmain, is affected with scab and is no +good. Red Winter Pearmain, falls off early; the tree is poor. +Gilliflowers, black and red, rot badly. Pennsylvania Red Streak, +affected with scab; very good some seasons; trees die early. Sweet +Bough, trees die early. Bentley Sweet, keeps all right, moderate bearer; +tree appears to be tender. Clayton, rots and is no good. Calvert is a +poor bearer and rots with me. Pound Pippin, no value. Iowa Blush, no +value, small. Red Vandervere, no value; rots. Vandervere Pippin, +moderate bearer and rots. Pennock Summer, good market in its season. +Pennock, fairly good; we have plenty better. Early Harvest is affected +with scab some seasons. Early Ripe is better and larger and to be +preferred. Smith's Cider, blight, poor tree. Red Astrachan, poor bearer. +Roxbury Russet, all russets fail with me. Jefferis, quality fine, but +will not bear. Ortley, good, but is inclined to rot. + +I prefer hilltop having a drift soil, but the subsoil is of more +importance than the surface soil. I prefer a north or northeast aspect. +I prefer two-year-old, medium-sized trees, clear of root aphis, set in a +dead furrow, with peach trees between north and south. I cultivate my +trees six years after planting, with a plow and five-tooth one-horse +cultivator. Plant the young orchard to corn; cease cropping after six or +seven years, and then seed down to clover. Windbreaks are essential; +would make them by planting one to six rows of Osage orange, red cedar +or catalpas all around the orchard. The boys hunt the rabbits with +shot-guns. I wash the trees with a carbolic-acid wash for borers. I +prune with a knife and saw to balance the top, keep down watersprouts, +and to get rid of useless wood. I think it pays and is beneficial, as it +shades the body of the tree and keeps off the flathead borers. I do not +thin the fruit. Can see no difference whether trees are in blocks of one +variety, or mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter +all over the ground, and wood ashes around the trees, but do not believe +it pays, and would not advise it on all soils; any soil that is suitable +for an orchard will not need enriching until after it ceases to be +profitable. I pasture my orchard with hogs and calves; I think it +advisable under certain conditions, and find it pays. My trees are +troubled with root aphis, roundhead borers and buffalo tree-crickets; +and my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray. I pick my apples by +hand, from a ladder, into a sack with a strap over the shoulder. I sell +the bulk of my apples in the orchard, from piles, at wholesale and +retail; sell the grocers and fruit dealers what are left of my best +apples. Make cider of the second and third grades of apples. Feed the +culls to the hogs. My best market is in Topeka. Never tried distant +markets. Do not dry any. I store some apples for winter in bulk, in +boxes and in barrels in a cellar. I have to repack stored apples before +marketing. Apples have been about forty cents a bushel in the orchard +for the last ten years. + + * * * * * + +E. HIGGINS, Seabrook, Shawnee county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-six +years; have an apple orchard of 250 trees twenty-five years old. For +market I prefer Winesap, Jonathan, Maiden's Blush, Smith's Cider, and +Ben Davis; for family orchard, Winesap, Jonathan, Maiden's Blush, Red +June, and Grimes's Golden Pippin. Have tried and discarded Kansas Keeper +on account of blight. I prefer hilltop; best below lime rock, with a +northeast slope. I prefer two-year-old, low-headed trees, set thirty +feet each way. I plant to corn for four years, then cease cropping, and +seed to clover. I have a windbreak on the south side made of Osage +orange, to keep the hot winds off. I prune lightly to thin out some of +the middle branches; I think it pays. I do not thin my fruit. I +fertilize my orchard with stable litter, and plow it under. I think it +beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils. I sow my orchard to +oats, and pasture with hogs with rings in their noses; they live on the +oats, and don't hurt the trees, but with the help of the chickens they +keep the canker-worms off. My trees are troubled with round- and +flathead borers. I do not spray. I hand-pick my apples; sort into two +classes--shipping and cider. I sell my apples in the home market; sell +second and third grades to the cider-mills. Never tried distant markets. +I do not dry any. I am successful in storing apples in bulk in a cellar; +find Winesap to keep best. Prices have been from fifty to sixty cents +per bushel. I employ young men at seventeen dollars per month. + + * * * * * + +J. C. BECKLEY, Spring Hill, Johnson county: I have lived in the state +thirty years; have an apple orchard of 130 trees, twenty-eight years old +and large for their age. For a commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis, +Jonathan, and Missouri Pippin; and for family use Early Harvest, +Maiden's Blush, Jonathan, and Winesap. I have tried and discarded +Smith's Cider, Talman (Sweet), Rambo, Fameuse, Willow Twig, White Winter +Pearmain, Roman Stem, Dominie, Fallawater, Wagener, Baldwin, and White +Pippin, because they mature too soon, fall off and rot long before it is +time to pick them. I prefer hilltop with a dark mulatto soil and a clay +subsoil, with a western aspect. I prefer two-year-old trees, with plenty +of fibrous roots, and a well-developed top, set forty by forty feet. I +cultivate my orchard till it is six or seven years old with a common +plow and harrow. In a young orchard I plant potatoes, corn, pumpkins, +melons, and garden-truck; I cease cropping after eight or nine years, +and seed bearing orchard to clover. Windbreaks are not essential, unless +on the south and north sides; would make them of cedar or evergreens. I +would not make a windbreak at all. For rabbits I wrap the trees. When +hunting borers I take knife and chisel and pare all gum and dirt off of +the roots; then I cut wherever I see signs of a borer until I get him, +and if he has gone too deep to cut out I take a No. 20 wire six or eight +inches long, bend a very small hook on one end, and run it up in the +hole he has made, and ninety-nine times out of 100 pull him out. When +done put some alkali of some kind around the tree, such as lime, ashes, +or soft soap; then cover up. + +I prune with a saw or knife, cutting out the crossed limbs and shaping +the top. I think it pays while the trees are young. I never thin the +fruit while on the trees. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize +my orchard with stable and hog manure; I think it very beneficial, and +advise its use on all soils, especially on old orchards. I pasture my +orchard with hogs, and think it advisable at times. It pays. My trees +are troubled with canker-worms, roundhead borers, and leaf rollers, and +my apples with codling-moths. I have never sprayed, but intend to this +spring, in April and May. I am going to use a dust sprayer with London +purple and Paris green for canker-worm. I pick my apples by hand from a +ladder into a sack, sort into two classes by hand, pack in a two-bushel +crate, fill full, with blossom end up, mark with the grade, and ship to +market-place by freight. I retail apples in the orchard; sell my best +ones in crates; feed the culls to hogs. Best market is at home; never +tried distant markets. We sun-dry some apples for home use, then heat on +the stove and put into paper sacks. I am quite successful in storing +apples in bulk, boxes and barrels in a cellar. Ben Davis, Winesap and +Little Romanite keep best. Sometimes I have to repack stored apples +before marketing, losing about one per cent. of them. Prices have been +about sixty cents per bushel, and dried apples five to six cents; +evaporated apples, seven to eight cents. + + * * * * * + +ALBERT PERRY, Troy, Doniphan county: Have lived in Kansas forty-one +years; have an apple orchard of 5000 trees, planted from five to +twenty-four years. I grow for commercial purposes, first, Jonathan; +second, Ben Davis, York Imperial, and Mammoth Black Twig. Ten years +hence those who now plant Ben Davis will probably regret it. [?] There +is a growing demand for a better eating apple. I now plant Jonathans and +York Imperial. The latter is a good bearer, and a vigorous tree, however +aged. For family orchard, I would advise adding to these Rambo and Fall +Strawberry [Chenango]. I have tried and discarded many others. Prefer +bottom, loess formation, near Missouri river. No slope has any advantage +over another. Cultivate with plow and harrow, growing corn as an orchard +crop for five years; then seed to clover and blue grass only. Do not +care for windbreaks. Where there are windbreaks apples on trees do not +get sufficient air. I protect from rabbits by tying corn-stalks about +young trees. Prune some. I believe all apple blossoms are +self-pollinating, and there is no advantage in mixed plantings. Need no +fertilizers but clover in my locality. Believe it pays to pasture the +orchard with horses in the winter; if you have a stack of hay for them +to go to they will not harm the trees. Am troubled with codling-moth and +apple curculio. Spray for codling-moth ten days after the apple is +formed, and believe I have reduced their number. I use the knife for +borers. Pick in baskets; deliver to packers in orchard. The aphis +appears to do no particular injury to tree or fruit. Burn fall web-worm +with a coal-oil torch. Sort into number one, fancy, number two, fair but +defective in shape, color, or otherwise, and culls. Pack in three-bushel +barrels, pressed so they will not shake. Sell firsts in orchard; sell +seconds in car lots in bulk; sell culls in bulk for cider or vinegar. My +best market is in the orchard. Have tried consigning to distant markets, +but it did not pay. Have stored second grades for winter in boxes and +barrels and in bulk, and made it pay. Ben Davis, Winesap and Rawle's +Janet kept best. We sort and lose about one-fifth of the second grade +only. Prices have run from $1 to $1.50 per barrel, of late years, in the +orchard. For help in care of orchard I use men. In picking season I use +all kinds of help. No experts. Pay from $1 to $1.50 per day. + + * * * * * + +J. H. ROACH, Lowemont, Leavenworth county: Have been in Kansas forty-two +years. Have an apple orchard of 5500 trees; 800 planted thirty years, +1200 planted thirteen years, and 3500 planted three years. For +commercial purposes I prefer Jonathan, Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, +Winesap, and Willow Twig. For family use I prefer Jonathan, Huntsman's +Favorite, and Winesap. I have discarded Yellow Bellflower, Rawle's +Janet, and Russets. I prefer black loam with red gravel subsoil, hilltop +with extreme north slope, no matter how steep. I plant thrifty +two-year-old trees, thirty-three feet apart each way, except Missouri +Pippin, which may be closer. Cultivate up to twelve years of age; grow +corn until seven, then clover two years; then corn one year, after that +clover with a little timothy, to keep the weeds down. I cease cropping +the clover when the orchard is from twelve to fourteen years old. I +consider windbreaks harmful. Any good axle grease or "dope" will keep +off rabbits. I trim until five years old with a pocket-knife, to give +shape and stout branches. I believe fertilizers are beneficial, put on +every second or third year. I pasture my bearing orchard with horses and +cattle, after the fruit is gathered until the 1st of January; think it +is advisable and a benefit; allow no hogs in at any time. Am bothered +some with borers and codling-moth. Have never tried spraying, but would +advise it. We pick in sacks fastened over the shoulder with a snap and +ring. Usually sell in the orchard. Have tried artificial cold storage +satisfactorily, and think it the most reasonable plan. Prices have +ranged from $1 to $1.50 per barrel, for firsts and seconds, in the +orchard. I employ men at seventy cents per day. + + * * * * * + +A. D. ARNOLD, Longford, Clay county: Have lived in Kansas twenty years. +Have 300 apple trees, sixteen years planted, from ten to fifteen inches +in diameter. Grow only Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin for all +purposes. I prefer bottom land in this locality, sandy loam with a +northern aspect. Plant two-year, stocky trees, with a low top. I +cultivate with the plow and disc, and grow no crop in the orchard. I +believe a windbreak of box-elder or evergreens is beneficial but not +essential. I prune very little, using my knife with judgment. I use +stable litter as a mulch, and think it pays. I never pasture my orchard. +Have few insects but codling-moth. I shade the body of the tree to keep +borers out, and dig them out if any get in. I use ladders, and pick into +baskets, and sort into two classes--perfect and imperfect. My trees have +never borne a full crop, only enough for home use and the neighbors. We +have had several dry seasons, causing the fruit to fall badly. + + * * * * * + +J. S. GAYLORD, Muscotah, Atchison county: Have lived in Kansas +twenty-six years; have 5000 apple trees, planted from one to twelve +years. For market I prefer Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, Winesap, and York +Imperial, and for family would add Yellow Transparent, Cooper's Early +White, Maiden's Blush, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Jonathan, Rawle's Janet, +and Little Romanite. I prefer hilltop with eastern slope, and would +plant only two-year-old trees. I have grown both seedlings for stock and +root grafts, in the nursery. I believe in thorough cultivation with +two-horse cultivator and double-shovel plow, using a five-tooth +cultivator near the trees. I crop with corn from seven to nine years, +and then sow to clover. I do not think windbreaks essential. For rabbits +and to prevent borers I use equal parts of carbolic acid and water as a +wash. I prune a little by cutting back on the north side and keeping out +the watersprouts, which I think pays. I think it pays to thin apples by +hand in July and August. I have used some stable litter in the orchard, +and think it pays. I pasture horses in my orchard during winter, but no +stock at any other time. I spray, after blossoms fall, three times, two +weeks apart, with Paris green, for the codling-moth, and my apples are +quite free from worms. I dig out borers and pick off worm nests. I pick +by hand in half-bushel baskets, sell at wholesale, and the buyer sorts +to suit himself. I have never dried or stored any. Prices in 1896 and +1897, seventy-five cents per barrel; spring of 1898, $1.25 to $1.65. I +use laborers at one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +ALEX. SPIERS, Linn, Washington county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-eight +years. For commercial orchard I prefer Jonathan, Cooper's Early White, +Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Rawle's Janet, Dominie, Winesap; and for +family orchard Jonathan, Winesap, Cooper's Early White, and Ben Davis. +Have tried and discarded Yellow Bellflower on account of shy bearing. I +prefer rolling upland, black, sandy loam with porous subsoil, and a +southeast slope. I prefer two-year-old trees; have tried root grafts and +seedlings with good success. I cultivate with a diamond plow up to +bearing age. Windbreaks are essential, and I would make them of ash, +box-elder, maple, and elm; I would plant either the young trees or seed. +I prune with a saw, and use a chisel on watersprouts. I think it +beneficial. I thin by shaking the tree when the fruit is small. I +fertilize; think it benefits the trees, by making them grow stronger, +and they fruit better; think it advisable on all soils. I pasture my +orchard with hogs, but would not advise it; does not pay. Flathead borer +and fall web-worm affect my trees. I spray, as soon as the bloom falls, +with London purple. I sometimes sell my apples in the orchard, and +sometimes from the cellar. I store apples in the cellar, and am +successful. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from twenty-five cents +to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +THEO. BEDKER, Linn, Washington county: I have lived in Kansas thirty +years; have an apple orchard of 100 trees from two to twelve years old. +For market I prefer Ben Davis, and for a family orchard Winesap. I +prefer bottom land with a sandy loam and a northeast aspect. I plant my +trees in squares thirty feet apart. I cultivate my orchard for three +years with a single-horse cultivator. Plant corn and potatoes in a young +orchard; cease cropping after four years; plant timothy and clover mixed +in bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of +willows, by planting on north and south sides of the orchard. For +rabbits I wrap the trees with corn-stalks in the winter, and dig the +borers out. I prune my trees with a saw to make thinner; I think it +beneficial, and that it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the +trees. I do not think it would pay. I fertilize my orchard with slaked +lime, and would advise it on all soils. It helps to keep off borers. I +do not pasture my orchard; do not think it advisable. My apple trees are +troubled with bud moth, twig-borer, and leaf-crumpler, and my apples +with curculio. I have sprayed when in bloom with London purple, but do +not think I have reduced the codling-moth. I pick my apples by hand, and +sort into two classes--good keepers and cider apples. Put them all in +one pile and then sort. I prefer barrels or boxes, from three to twenty +bushels; fill them full. I retail my apples. I sell the best in sacks by +the bushel. Make cider for vinegar of the culls. Never tried distant +markets. I dry some for home use in the sun; this is satisfactory. I am +successful in storing apples in boxes and barrels in the cellar. I find +the Rawle's Janet and Winesap keep best. I never tried artificial cold +storage; I lose about one-twentieth of my stored apples. I do not +irrigate. Prices have been from thirty-five to fifty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +JOHN FULCOMER, Belleville, Republic county: Have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years; have raised for market Ben Davis, Winesap, and +Jonathan; would prefer for family orchard Early Harvest, Red June, +Duchess of Oldenburg, Cooper's Early White, Smith's Cider, Minkler, +Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Ben Davis, Golden Sweet, and Maiden's Blush. +Have tried and discarded about all varieties excepting the above named +on account of being tender and unprofitable. I prefer bottom land, +limestone soil with a gravel subsoil, and a northeast or eastern slope. +I prefer for planting strong, stocky yearlings--never over two years +old--set at the crossing of furrows plowed with a lister. I cultivate my +orchard to potatoes, pumpkins, squashes, melons, or any low hoed crop. I +use an ordinary ten- or twelve-inch plow, and a five-tooth cultivator, +and keep this up until they begin to bear; then seed to clover, mow it, +and let it rot on the ground; then let the clover seed fall under, +harrow, and let come up again. Windbreaks are beneficial; would make +them of ash and Osage orange, by planting a few rows of trees inside of +the hedge. To protect against rabbits, I wrap the trees. I prune with a +saw and knife to remove chafing and dead limbs, and to make the tree +more healthy and vigorous. I think it beneficial. I never thin the fruit +on the trees. I fertilize my orchard with coal and wood ashes; think it +beneficial, and would advise their use on all soils. I do not pasture my +orchard. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, and my apples with +codling-moth. I never have sprayed to any extent. I hand-pick my apples, +in one-half bushel splint baskets; sort into two classes as soon as +picked. + + * * * * * + +LOW. MILLER, Perry, Jefferson county: Have lived in Kansas thirty years. +Have an apple orchard of 2400 trees from one to fifteen years old. For +commercial purposes I prefer Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, and Ben Davis, +and for family orchard Early Harvest, Red Winter Pearmain, Cooper's +Early White, and Rambo. I prefer bottom land, clay soil and a porous +subsoil, with a north and east slope. I prefer two-year-old, low-headed, +stocky trees, planted twenty-five by thirty feet. I cultivate my orchard +to corn for six years, using a plow, cultivator, and harrow, and cease +cropping after six or seven years. Grow only weeds in a bearing orchard. +Windbreaks are essential; would make them of maples, planted two rods +apart around orchard. For rabbits I keep two hounds and a shot-gun. I +get after the borers with a knife. I prune with a knife to keep out +watersprouts. Never have thinned fruit on the trees. I fertilize my +orchard with stable litter, and think it has proven beneficial, but +would not advise its use on all soils. I pasture my orchard with horses, +but would not advise it. I doubt if it pays. My trees are troubled with +borers, and my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray. Pick my apples +by hand into sacks. I sort into three classes--first, second, and +culls--into baskets from the ground. I sell apples in the orchard at +wholesale. I market my best apples in barrels; sell second and third +grades to vinegar and cider-mills. My best market is at home. Never +tried distant markets. Do not dry any. I store some apples in bulk in a +cellar, and am successful. Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin keep best. +Prices have been seventy-five cents to $1.50 per barrel. I employ men +and boys at one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +WM. GURWELL, Fanning, Doniphan county: I have lived in Kansas +thirty-five years; have 5000 apple trees, planted from two to thirty +years. For commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, Jonathan, +White Winter Pearmain, and Rawle's Janet; and would add for family use +Early Harvest and Dominie. Have tried and discarded Yellow Bellflower; +not prolific in this climate. I prefer hill with black loam and clay +subsoil; any slope but southwest is good. I prefer two-year-old trees, +and set them in holes dug two and half to three feet square with a +spade, and set the trees two or three inches deeper than they stood in +the nursery. Have tried home-grown root grafts, and was successful. I +cultivate to corn, potatoes, pumpkins, and melons, using plow and +harrow. I crop a bearing orchard lightly, and cease when in full +bearing. I kill the rabbits. I prune with saw, knife, and clippers, and +think it beneficial. I seldom thin fruit on the trees. My trees are +planted in blocks. I fertilize the land near the trees with stable +litter; I would advise its use on thin soil. I pasture my orchard with +calves and hogs, and think it advisable; it pays in some orchards. Trees +are troubled with borers; I hunt the borers with a wire. We pick +carefully in large baskets and sacks from a step-ladder; I pack in +barrels. My best market is northwest of here; I sometimes sell in the +orchard at wholesale, retail, and peddle; dry and make cider of the +culls; never dry for market. I sometimes store a few apples, and find +the Winesap, White Winter Pearmain and Rawle's Janet keep the best. We +have to repack stored apples before marketing them. Do not irrigate. +Prices have been from 60 cents to $1.25 per barrel. I employ all kinds +of help, and pay one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +SAMUEL H. BERT, Moonlight, Dickinson county: Have been in Kansas +nineteen years; have 500 apple trees from four to twenty-two years +planted; the oldest are twelve inches in diameter. For commercial +purposes use Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Janet, and for family use +would add Red June and Maiden's Blush. Have tried and discarded Red +Streak, Romanite, Rambo, and Bellflower. I prefer bottom in this +locality with a northeast slope. I plant twenty-eight or thirty feet +apart. I plant two-year-old trees; rather plant a yearling than +three-year-olds. Have never tried root grafts or seedlings. I cultivate +even my oldest trees, using a plow and harrow; it pays. I grow corn in +young orchard until too large; then nothing, just cultivate. Windbreaks +are essential, and should be made of Osage orange or mulberries; but not +too close to the orchard. I tie corn-stalks around the trees to protect +from rabbits, and keep the trees low, to shade the trunks to protect +against borers. I prune to prevent forks, to keep from splitting. I thin +apples when necessary; this should be done when they are about half +grown. I prefer to plant my trees in blocks. An orchard should be +fertilized with fine stable litter. I would advise the use of it, +especially on upland soil. Never pasture my orchard. My trees are +troubled with flathead borers. Never sprayed much, but think it would be +beneficial. I pick in sack hung over shoulder. We make three classes of +our apples--large, small, and specked. Have no particular way to market; +sell any way I can, but never in the orchard. We make cider, boiled +cider and apple-butter of the culls. Never have tried distant markets. +Never dry any. Store some for winter in bulk and in barrels in cellar; +am successful; find that the Winesaps keep best. Have never tried +artificial cold storage. We have to repack stored apples before +marketing; lost very few this winter, as I kept them out of the cellar +until December; then they kept well. I do not irrigate. Prices have been +from 60 cents to $1.50 per barrel. + + * * * * * + +G. E. SPOHR, Manhattan, Riley county: Have resided in Kansas twenty-six +years. Have an orchard of 3000 trees, nineteen years planted. Originator +of the Spohr apple (described elsewhere). Plants for commerce Winesap, +Missouri Pippin, and Ben Davis; for family orchard, Winesap, Missouri +Pippin, Maiden's Blush, and Early Harvest. Have tried fifty varieties, +but think none of them paid better than those named. I live on bottom +land, eight feet to water. Any slope is good. Prefer sandy loam. Plant +two-year-old, well-pruned trees, in large holes. Cultivate thoroughly, +planting to corn until seven years old; then seed to alfalfa. I favor +windbreaks of Scotch or Austrian pines, planted in three rows ten feet +apart. I believe in pruning, and always have my knife open when in the +orchard, and trim at all times; like to have trees, not brush piles. +The deity governing Kansas winds thins the fruit sufficiently. Apple +trees are more fruitful if varieties are mixed in planting. Use all the +two- and three-year-old stable litter I can get. Do not pasture my +orchard. Spray with London purple one week before and two weeks after +blooming, for canker-worm, leaf-roller, and codling-moth, and have +reduced the latter by it. I hunt the borers and go after them with a hot +(?) iron. Pick by hand, and sort to suit customers. Pack in eleven-peck +barrels, and mark with stencil. Sell my best apples to shippers, and +make vinegar and hog and cattle feed of culls. My best market is +Colorado, but I sell in orchard. I store successfully for winter in a +cave in bulk, and find Winesap and Missouri Pippin the best keepers, +losing about ten per cent. Prices average fifty cents per bushel. Pay +help from $12.50 per month to 75 cents per day and board. + + * * * * * + +R. D. OSBORNE, Soldier, Jackson county: Have lived in the state +thirty-one years; have 500 apple trees, from three to sixteen years +planted. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, York Imperial, +Gano, and Winesap; for family orchard, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and, +for summer, Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, and Cooper's Early White. +Have tried and discarded Vandevere, as it does not bear, and Willow Twig +on account of blight; Rawle's Janet no good on market. I prefer hilltop +if well cultivated; otherwise bottom, with a loam soil and a sandy +subsoil, and a southeast slope to protect from southwest winds. I plant +two-year-old trees, three feet to head, not less than three limbs to +form head, thirty feet each way. I cultivate with plow, harrow and spade +the square immediately surrounding the tree. I plant corn in the young +orchard and seed the bearing orchard to clover; cease cropping at five +or six years. I think windbreaks essential on southwest, and would plant +Osage orange or Russian mulberry. I wrap with grass or tarred paper to +protect from rabbits. I prune in May to spread the top and thin the +fruit. I seldom thin the fruit, but it will pay to thin the last of May. +I fertilize with stable litter, but would advise it only on hill +orchards. I pasture the orchard with hogs and horses, and think it +advisable, and that it pays. My apples are troubled with codling-moth. I +spray during May, after the blossom has fallen, with kerosene emulsion, +sulphate of copper, and London purple, for codling-moth, blight, and +insects generally. I think I have reduced the codling-moth. I treat +borers with crude carbolic acid diluted with water. I dig around tree +down to the roots, dam outside, fill around tree with water and acid +strong enough to tingle your tongue. I hand-pick from ladders by the +ordinary method. Never sell in orchard; make cider of second- and +third-grade apples; feed culls to stock. My best markets are Holton and +Topeka; never have tried distant markets. Never dry any. Store but few +apples in an orchard cave, nine feet deep, eight feet wide by +twenty-four feet long. The apples are put on shelves about ten inches +deep. + + * * * * * + +H. L. JONES, Salina, Saline county: Have lived in Kansas forty-four +years; have an apple orchard of 6000 trees, planted from five to +twenty-five years. For market I prefer Missouri Pippin, Winesap, +Jonathan, Lowell, Cooper's Early White, Grimes's Golden Pippin, and +Wealthy. For family orchard would plant Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, +Jonathan, Winesap, Missouri Pippin. Have tried and discarded Alexander +as a shy bearer which rots on the tree. Prefer bottom land here, sandy +soil, free from clay or hard-pan. Preferable with northeast slope. Plant +well-branched two-year-old trees; turn deep cross-furrows the distance +the trees are wanted apart; cultivate in corn until the trees are five +or six years old; after that use the plow and disc harrow and plant +nothing. I emphatically believe that windbreaks are essential. They may +be made of anything hardy and suitable, as Osage orange, box-elder, +walnut, etc. To protect from rabbits, wrap with grass or corn-stalks. I +only prune with shears and saw, to clear the limbs off the ground a +little. I believe stable litter is good for an orchard. I pasture very +little, and do not think it good for an orchard. I spray as soon as the +leaves start, with Paris green or London purple, mostly for canker-worm, +and doubt its effect upon codling-moth. Thrifty trees are not usually +bothered with borers, and unthrifty trees should be made into firewood. +Our pickers use sacks with strap over the shoulder. We sort into four +classes: First, large, sound fruit; second, small sound fruit; third, +slightly damaged fruit; fourth, culls. Very little packing is done here; +apples are usually sold to shippers in bulk. I sell my culls to hundreds +of farmers in this and adjoining counties for canning, apple-butter, +etc. My best market is here in Salina. I have tried distant markets, but +it did not pay very well. Have never dried any; stored but few for +winter in baskets and barrels. I find the Missouri Pippin, Winesap, +Rawle's Janet and Romanite are the best keepers. Our loss in keeping +varies with the season and the condition of the apples at picking time. +Have never irrigated any. Prices during the past six years have varied +from twenty-five to fifty cents per bushel. I use men and boys to help +pick and at spraying time in the spring, usually paying one dollar per +day. + + * * * * * + +N. CHRISTENSEN, Mariadahl, Pottawatomie county: I have lived in Kansas +forty years. Have an apple orchard of four acres, from five to +twenty-five years planted. For all purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri +Pippin, and Winesap. I prefer second-bottom land with a black loam, a +clay subsoil, and a northeast slope. I prefer good two-year-old trees +planted thirty feet apart, alternated with peaches. I have cultivated my +orchard to corn, but do not think it advisable. I used a plow, +cultivator and disc for eight years. I have cultivated the young orchard +both ways twelve times, and shall keep on with the disc and harrow. I +cease cropping after six or eight years, and then grow alfalfa. +Windbreaks are not essential. I use wire-cloth as a protection against +rabbits; I would not risk an apple or pear tree without it. I prune with +a knife, saw and shears when the trees are young; I think it beneficial, +as it makes the trees healthier. I fertilize my orchard with stable +litter; I spread it all over the ground and then harrow it in. I pasture +my orchard with calves after it is six or eight years old and has been +seeded to grass; I think it pays in an old orchard. My trees are +troubled with tent-caterpillars and borers. I have not sprayed yet, but +think I shall this spring with Bordeaux mixture. I pick my apples by +hand; sort into two classes. I feed my second and third grades and culls +to the calves and hogs; have made cider of them, but could not find +market for it. I have tried shipping apples to distant markets, but it +did not pay. I dry some apples for home use, using stove and sun; +neither way is satisfactory. I store my best apples in bulk in a cellar +under the house; am not very successful; I find Ben Davis and Winesap +keep the best. Prices have been from twenty-five to fifty cents per +bushel. I do not hire any help; the family does the work. + + * * * * * + +H. R. ROBERTS, Perry, Jefferson county: I have lived in Kansas since +1859; have an apple orchard from four to twenty-eight years old. For a +commercial orchard I prefer Jonathan, Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri +Pippin, and Maiden's Blush; and for a family orchard Red June, Maiden's +Blush, Jonathan, Winesap, and Rawle's Janet. I prefer midland altitude +or bottom, with a rich loam and a clay subsoil, and a northeast slope. +I prefer two-year-old trees with upright heads, set 30x40 feet in +squares. I cultivate my trees with a plow and cultivator until they +occupy most of the ground. I plant corn and potatoes in a young orchard, +and cease cropping when the size of the trees renders it impossible. I +seed the bearing orchard to red clover. Windbreaks are not essential; a +hedge fence is all that is necessary, and this ought not to be nearer +than forty feet of the trees. For rabbits I wrap the trees; and dig the +borers out with a knife. I prune sparingly with a knife or sharp ax to +remove all dead or injured limbs; I think it pays. I thin the fruit when +the trees are overloaded, by taking off one-half after they are the size +of marbles. My trees are planted in blocks for convenience in picking. I +fertilize my orchard with all the barn-yard litter I can get, scattered +broadcast; would advise its use on all soils unless already very rich. I +am sorry to confess I have pastured my orchard with hogs; it is not +advisable. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, +root aphis, roundhead borers, and buffalo tree-hopper; and my apples +with codling-moth, curculio, and gouger. I have sprayed just as the buds +open for canker-worm; have also sprayed for codling-moth. I pick all the +apples I can reach from the ground in baskets, and the rest from ladders +into sacks; I handle very carefully. I sort into two classes from a +table as they come from the trees; pack in eleven-peck barrels for fall +use, and twelve-peck barrels for winter use, carefully shaken and +pressed; mark with the grade and name of variety and haul to market on +wagon. I always sell in the orchard by car lots, when I can. I retail +the scattered ones; send the third grade to the cider-mills. My best +markets are sometimes both east and west of here. I never ship to +commission men; it don't pay. I don't dry nor store any. I do not +irrigate. I employ men and boys (men preferred). Pay one dollar per day +and dinner. + + * * * * * + +W. D. KERN, Baldwin, Douglas county: I have resided in Kansas +thirty-nine years. Have an apple orchard of 775 trees four years old. +For market I prefer Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, and Willow Twig, and for +family orchard Yellow Transparent, Maiden's Blush, and Jonathan. I +prefer a loose, porous subsoil on a north slope. I prefer one- or +two-year-old trees, set twenty-two feet apart north and south and +thirty-three feet east and west. I plant my orchard to corn, potatoes, +and clover, and keep up the cultivation until they are bearing well, +using a diamond plow and one-horse cultivator. I never cease cropping. +Windbreaks are not essential, but if they were I should make them of +four or five rows of maple or some quick-growing trees, on the south and +west sides of the orchard. For rabbits I use wooden tree wrappers, and +dig the borers out. I prune to give the tree shape and let in the sun; I +think it pays, as it keeps the tree from overbearing. I do not thin the +fruit while on the trees, but think it would pay. I fertilize my orchard +with barn-yard litter, and would advise it on all soils when it needs +it. I pasture my orchard with hogs; I think it advisable, and that it +pays. My trees are troubled with canker-worms, tent-caterpillars, +borers, tree-hoppers, and leaf-rollers, and my apples with codling-moth +and curculio. I do not spray. I hand-pick my apples into buckets and +sacks from step-ladders. I sell my apples in the orchard at wholesale. I +sell the best to shippers, and the second and third grades the best way +I can. I sell or feed the culls to the stock. Never tried distant +markets. I do not dry any. Some years I am successful in storing apples +in barrels and boxes in a cellar. Winesap and Missouri Pippin keep best. +I never tried artificial cold storage. I have to repack stored apples +before marketing, losing about one-fourth of them. I do not irrigate. +Prices have been from sixty cents to one dollar per eleven-peck barrel. +I employ men at ten cents per hour. + + * * * * * + +JAMES SHARP, Morris county: Have been in Kansas twenty-eight years. Have +an orchard in Morris county of 8000 trees, planted from two to thirteen +years. I grow for market Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, and York +Imperial; would add for family Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, and +Winesap. Have tried and discarded Yellow Bellflower, Lawver, Willow +Twig, and Smith's Cider; the former is barren, the others blight. I +prefer second bottom with northeast slope; soil loose, black loam, with +red clay subsoil. I plant in furrows each way, 16x30 feet, running a +subsoiler in the furrows, and use straight, smooth, two-year-old trees. +Have tried root grafts, but they need nursery care at first. I cultivate +at all ages, while young with plow, and old orchard with reversible +disc. I grow corn in young orchard, and after five or six years keep the +ground bare with the disc. I think windbreaks essential, and use Osage +orange, elm, ash, Austrian pine, and cedars. Catch the rabbits; and +cultivate well as a protection from borers. Do not prune much; take out +a little brush if necessary to more readily reach the fruit. Never have +thinned apples. Have never fertilized, and am decidedly opposed to +pasturing orchards with any kind of stock. Am troubled with canker-worm, +tent-caterpillar, flathead borer, woolly aphis, twig-borer, fall +web-worm, leaf-roller, leaf-crumbler, and codling-moth. Spray regularly +with London purple; cannot say it has reduced the codling-moth any; for +borers I keep my trees thrifty by constant cultivation. We pick in candy +pails, but find it bruises the fruit too much. I sort by hand in three +classes, commercial size Nos. 1 and 2, and culls. I pack in three-bushel +barrels, stenciled with name of variety and grower, and ship by freight. +Sell any way I can; have never sold in the orchard; sell culls for +apple-butter, and make some cider; have marketed at good prices at +Pueblo, Colo.; have never dried any for market. I store some for winter +in boxes, barrels and in bulk in a cellar, and find that Ben Davis and +Missouri Pippin keep best. I usually have to sort over those kept +through, and lose perhaps one-fifth. Have never irrigated. My average +returns are about fifty cents per bushel. For help I use men at one +dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +JAMES WILSON, Assaria, Saline county: Lived in Kansas twenty years; has +an orchard of five acres, twenty-three years planted. For commerce he +uses Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Jonathan, and for family use would +add Maiden's Blush, Grimes's Golden Pippin, and Rawle's Janet. Has +discarded Rambo as too shy a bearer. Prefers light soil, with a heavy +subsoil in the bottom, with a southern slope. Plants thirty feet apart +each way. Grows no crop in orchard, and cultivates with stirring plow +and cultivator until the trees completely shade the ground. Believes +windbreaks necessary, and would plant box-elder, three feet apart, in +rows three feet apart, so as to shut out all wind. Binds with +corn-stalks to protect against rabbits. Prunes by cutting off lower +limbs and thinning center; says it is beneficial, and makes fruit larger +and of better color. Thins apples on trees when the size of marbles, and +believes it pays. On pollination he says: "I had one tree that stood +alone, and never bore fruit until I got honey-bees; then it bore all +right." Uses no fertilizers. Allows no live stock in the orchard. Has +sprayed just after the blossom fell, with London purple and Bordeaux +mixture, for the last five years, and it has reduced codling-moth. Uses +knife and soap-suds for borers. Picks and sorts into three +classes--sound and big, medium and affected, and culls. Sells in orchard +and in Salina; makes vinegar and hog feed of culls. Never shipped any +apples. Stores for winter by burying in bulk, and is successful. The +Missouri Pippin and Rawle's Janet keep best. Prices from fifty to +seventy-five cents per bushel. Uses boys from fourteen to twenty years +of age for help, and pays fifty cents to one dollar per day with board. + + * * * * * + +J. W. WILLIAMS, Holton, Jackson county: I have lived in the state forty +years; have an apple orchard of 225 trees of various ages, the oldest +being thirty-nine years. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, +Winesap, and Jonathan; and for a family orchard Red Astrachan, Early +Harvest, Dominie, Lowell, and Winesap. Have tried thirty varieties and +discarded all excepting the above mentioned. I prefer a rich soil with a +porous subsoil and a north slope; can see little difference between +hilltop and bottom orchards. I prefer two-year-old trees, with +symmetrical form, for setting; when planting I trim all affected roots +and prune lightly; set them inclined to the southwest. I cultivate my +orchard as long as it lives with a plow and harrow--plow shallow; plant +the young orchard to potatoes, beans, vines, and sometimes corn, using a +one-horse diamond plow, and am careful to harrow afterward. I cease +cropping six or seven years after setting, and plant a bearing orchard +to red clover. I think windbreaks are essential; would make them of most +any kind of rapid-growing trees planted in groves on the east and south +sides of the orchard. For rabbits I wrap the trees, and dig the borers +out. I prune with a penknife to keep the trees in good shape. It pays if +properly done, and is not too severe. I have thinned my fruit by hand +when of the size of hickory-nuts. Think trees do best in mixed +plantings. I fertilize my orchard with barn-yard litter and ashes; I +think it beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils. I pasture my +orchard with hogs part of a day at a time when the apples fall badly. +Don't let them in at will. I think it pays and is advisable, for they +destroy the moth. My trees are troubled with both round- and flathead +borers, and my apples with codling-moth. I spray, using a hand sprayer, +with Bordeaux mixture and London purple, when the blossom falls, for +codling-moth and curculio. It has not been beneficial. I burn the [tent] +caterpillars. I pick my apples by hand in a sack over the shoulder, and +sort into three classes--first, finest; second, fair; third, culls. I +sort from the ground or a table. I sell apples in the orchard, wholesale +and retail, and have no trouble in selling my first-grade apples. I sell +and make cider of the second and third grades, and also dry some of +them. Feed the culls to hogs or other stock. My best market is at home. +We dry some in a common dry-house which is very satisfactory; after they +are dry we put them into sacks to keep from millers; we find a market +for them, but it does not pay well. I am fairly successful in storing +apples on shallow shelves in the cellar; Winesap and Rawle's Janet keep +best. I do not irrigate. Apples have been about fifty cents per bushel, +and dried apples three to five cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +ANDREW SWANSON, Dwight, Morris county: I have resided in Kansas +seventeen years, and have an apple orchard of 1800 trees eight years +old, eight to ten feet tall. For market I prefer Winesap, Ben Davis, and +Missouri Pippin; and for family orchard would add Jonathan and Maiden's +Blush. I have tried and discarded Rome Beauty, Huntsman's Favorite, and +Minkler. I do not like them. I have upland, with a poor soil and a gumbo +subsoil, with a north and east aspect. I prefer two-year-old trees, set +thirty feet apart each way. I cultivate my orchard with a stirring plow, +and intend to keep it up as long as I live; plant corn or any cultivated +crop in the young orchard, and cease when there is no room; plant +nothing in the bearing orchard. I think a hedge fence all around the +orchard as a windbreak would be beneficial. For rabbits, I wrap the +trees with wire screening, and leave it on. I prune my trees every +winter, or when I have time, to thin the top and to give shape; I think +it pays, and is very beneficial. I do not thin my fruit--the wind does +that for me. I fertilize my orchard, and think it beneficial, and would +advise it on all soils. I do not pasture my orchard; it is not +advisable and does not pay. My trees are troubled with leaf-rollers and +other insects. I give the culls to hogs. I am successful in storing +apples in bulk in an arched cellar; Winesap, Ben Davis and Missouri +Pippin keep best. I never tried artificial cold storage. I do not +irrigate. Price has been seventy-five cents per bushel; dried apples +eight to ten cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +F. B. HARRIS, White City, Morris county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-five-years, and have an orchard of 800 trees, planted from ten to +fifteen years ago. For commercial purposes I prefer Maiden's Blush, +Cooper's Early White, Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin. For a +family orchard I would put out the same, adding Red June, Jonathan, and +Smith's Cider. I have discarded the Willow Twig, as it rots too easily. +I prefer hilltop, north slope, soil as deep as possible, and a gumbo +subsoil. Would plant two-year-old trees with perfect crown growth, +twenty feet north and south, thirty feet east and west. My last +planting, ten years ago, was of root grafts, and I like it first rate. I +grow corn in the orchard for about ten years, then nothing. I cultivate +thoroughly, plowing until the soil is doubled, and then use the disc +pulverizer. I believe windbreaks to be very, very, very essential, and +would make of Osage orange on the outside, and any quick-growing +forest-tree next to the orchard. For protection against rabbits, I tie +with weeds and twine. I prune with a jackknife, a two-inch thin-bladed +chisel, and mallet. It does pay, and is beneficial until the trees are +ten years old. I tried thinning, but it proved more injury than profit. +I use all the fertilizer from stables and stock-yards that I can get, +spread all over the ground, and believe it would pay on any soil. I +would allow no live stock in the orchard but poultry, and would not +allow them to roost in the trees. + +I have some trouble with tent-caterpillars, roundheaded borers, fall +web-worm, and curculio. I spray with London purple, first when the bloom +falls, then every ten days until three times, with a spray pump, using +London purple. I do not know whether I have reduced the codling-moth any +or not. I treat the borers with penknife and probe, others with rough +handling--eternal, vigilant destruction. I pick from step-ladders into +pails; place in sack to haul to the barn or shed. We sort into two +classes--first, all sound and marketable, second for cider. I sort by +hand from the pile, three or four bushels at a time. We pack in +bushel-and-a-half sacks, filled from the half-bushel measure, mark with +the name of variety, and haul to market in spring wagon. I retail and +peddle them, making the culls into cider and vinegar. My best market is +our nearest town; tried distant market last fall and it paid. We dry +some, pack into tight boxes as soon as dried and store in dark place, +and find a ready market at the stores at six cents per pound. It does +not pay very well, but saves waste. I only store for family use, in +headless barrels; generally keep well. Ben Davis keeps the best. We lose +from one-fourth to one-half. I believe irrigation would be a good thing. +Prices have been from thirty-five cents to seventy-five cents per +bushel. Use only home help. + + * * * * * + +M. D. WELTNER, Westmoreland, Pottawatomie county: Have been in Kansas +eighteen years. Planted 800 apple trees ten years ago. I do not own this +orchard at present. I planted Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Winesap, +Jonathan, and Maiden's Blush. I prefer sandy or black loam, with clay +subsoil, bottom land or gentle slope to the north. I set good, thrifty, +clean, two-year-old trees. I thoroughly plow my ground, then run a +lister for the row, and throw out with spade or shovel where the trees +are to go. I cultivate with potatoes and corn, using the plow, harrow, +and five-tooth cultivator, until ten or twelve years old, then sow to +clover. I use no windbreaks. For rabbits I wrap with building paper or +wire screen. I believe it pays to prune with the knife and saw a little +each year, to train the tree to grace, beauty, and profit. I never tried +thinning fruit. Would fertilize with a little stable litter spread over +the ground. Never would pasture an orchard. Had some canker-worm and +curculio, but never tried spraying. I pick from a step-ladder into a +shoulder sack. + + * * * * * + +V. E. HATHAWAY, Council Grove, Morris county: Have lived in Kansas +thirty years; have an orchard of 1000 trees two to twelve inches in +diameter. Have tried and discarded Willow Twig and Smith's Cider on +account of blight. I prefer a gravel or clay bottom with northern slope. +I prefer healthy trees set forty by twenty feet. I cultivate my orchard +to corn until too large, plowing very shallow. Windbreaks are +beneficial; would make them of cedar. I prune by cutting out the inner +limbs that rub; I think it pays. I do not thin the fruit on the trees. I +sometimes fertilize with stable litter; would advise its use on all +soils. I do not pasture my orchard; do not think it advisable. My trees +are troubled with canker-worm, and my fruit by codling-moth. I spray +just after the blooms fall with London purple, and think I have reduced +the codling-moth. I dig out insects not affected by spraying. I pick my +fruit from inside of tree from a ladder. Sort into three classes. Pack +in apple barrels, pressed down, and marked with the quality; then +transport to market on a wagon. I wholesale, retail, and peddle; +sometimes sell in the orchard. Feed the culls to hogs. My best market is +at home; never tried distant markets. Do not dry any. I store apples in +boxes or barrels, and am successful. I find Missouri Pippin, Winesap and +Ben Davis keep best. We have to repack stored apples before marketing, +and lose about one-eighth or one-tenth. I do not irrigate. Prices have +been from fifty cents to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +S. MARTY, Longford, Clay county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-eight +years; have an apple orchard of 200 trees from seven to fifteen years +old, eight to ten inches in diameter. Have tried and discarded Grimes's +Golden Pippin and Willow Twig. I prefer sandy bottom, loam soil, with a +north or northeast aspect. I prefer two-year-old, low, stocky trees, set +in rows thirty-six feet each way. Have tried root grafts with very good +success. I cultivate my trees eight years; first four to potatoes, using +a disc harrow; plow shallow among young trees; plant nothing in a +bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of Osage +orange and box-elder on both south and west sides of the orchard. I trap +and shoot the rabbits. I prune very little; only cut out the branches +that interfere. I fertilize my orchard with barn-yard litter; I think it +beneficial. I do not pasture my orchard; do not think it advisable. Do +not spray. Sort into two classes: good and bad. + + * * * * * + +J. L. STEELE, Minneapolis, Ottawa county: Have lived in Kansas fourteen +years. Have 200 apple trees from six to twelve years old. I prefer +bottom land with sandy loam and similar subsoil, north slope. I plant +two-year-old trees branched near the ground, in deep furrows made by +plow. Have tried root grafts with good success. I cultivate with corn +and potatoes, using disc and harrow all the time; plant nothing in +bearing orchard; cease cropping when about eight or ten years old. +Windbreaks are essential, on the south; would make them of honey-locust, +two or three feet apart in the row. I wrap the tree with corn-stalks to +protect from rabbits. Have not been troubled with borers. I only prune +out the limbs that interfere with others. Never thin apples. I fertilize +with stable litter, and think it beneficial; would advise its use on +all soils. I do not pasture my orchard; it does not pay. My trees are +troubled with canker-worm. I spray with London purple when the worms +first begin their work, to kill leaf-eating insects; do not think I have +reduced the codling-moth. I irrigate with a 4-1/2-inch-cylinder pump and +well. + + * * * * * + +J. C. CAMPBELL, Campbell, Washington county: Have lived in Kansas +fifteen years; have 250 trees from three to fourteen years old, eight to +twelve inches in diameter. I prefer for family orchard Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and Rawle's Janet. I prefer hilltop with deep +soil and red subsoil, and an eastern slope. I prefer three-year-old +trees, set 24x30 feet, as deep as they were in the nursery. I cultivate +in buckwheat for eight years with the plow; after that plant nothing. +Windbreaks are essential on the southwest or north and south; would make +them of Osage orange; plant them forty feet distant and do not trim. For +rabbits I wrap with corn-stalks and leave them on summer and winter. I +prune with a saw; then cover the wound with wax; I think it beneficial. +Have never thinned fruit. Never use fertilizer; do not think it +advisable. Do not pasture my orchard; would not advise it. My trees are +affected with twig-borer and leaf-roller. The codling-moth troubles my +apples. I do not spray. I pick my apples early and leave them in piles +in the orchard until cold weather. + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM YOUNG, Brantford, Washington county: Have lived in Kansas +twenty-one years. Have 200 apple trees, five to twenty-five years +planted, four to twelve inches in diameter. I prefer for commercial +orchard Winesap, Ben Davis, and Rawle's Janet. I prefer bottom land, +with black loam and clay subsoil. I prefer three-year-old trees, good, +smooth bark, and three or four branches. Have tried root grafts and +seedlings with good success. I cultivate in corn, using plow for +thirteen years; plow toward the trees one year, then away the next. +Windbreaks are essential, and I would make them of cottonwood, box-elder +or catalpa planted in rows on the north side. Am not troubled with +rabbits or borers. I prune with a saw and knife, to produce better +fruit; I think it beneficial. I fertilize with stable litter and wood +ashes; I would advise its use on all soils. I pasture my orchard with +hogs; think it advisable, and that it pays. My trees are troubled some +with insects; codling-moth troubles my apples. I pick my apples by hand +into a basket, then sort and put in the cellar. I sort into two classes, +good and bad; we sort as we pick them. I sell my apples at home and in +town, sometimes in orchard; retail, wholesale, or peddle. Make cider for +vinegar of culls. My best market is Clifton; never tried distant +markets. Never dry any. I store some for winter market in thin layers on +shelves, in cellar seven feet deep, and find the Winesap keeps best. +Prevailing price has been eighty cents. + + * * * * * + +H. E. PENNY, Hiawatha, Brown county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-eight +years. Have 1800 apple trees--600 planted fifteen years, 1200 planted +ten years. Grow nothing but Ben Davis. Planted two-year-old trees, +twenty-four by thirty feet, on a southern slope. Cultivate in corn for +ten years and then sow to clover. I prune only to keep the watersprouts +from bothering the tree. I believe fertilizing pays, although I have not +tried it. I never allow any stock but poultry in the orchard. I spray +after the bloom has fallen, and ten days later, with Paris green, to +destroy the codling-moth. We sort out only one grade, allowing the culls +to rot. We pack in three-bushel barrels, and usually sell in the orchard +at wholesale. Our best market is Minneapolis, Minn., but I have not made +shipping pay. I have tried artificial cold storage; they did not keep +satisfactorily, I do not know why. I had to repack, and lost over twenty +per cent. Prices have varied from 75 cents to $1.50 per barrel. For +help, I use boys at fifty cents to seventy-five cents per day. + + * * * * * + +J. D. HAZEN, Leona, Doniphan county: Have been in Kansas forty years; +have an apple orchard of 13,200 trees; 10,000 have been planted fourteen +years, and 3200 for two years. I would plant nothing but Ben Davis for +commercial purposes. For the family orchard I would add Winesap, +Jonathan, and Rawle's Janet. Prefer rather high land, well underdrained, +with a northeast slope. I plant good two-year-old trees, in rows two +rods apart east and west, and the trees one rod apart in the row north +and south. I grow corn or potatoes for six years, then seed down to +clover. I cultivate the trees while young with a small one-horse plow. I +think windbreaks essential on the south and west sides; Osage orange is +good, set the same as for a fence, and allowed to grow tall. I wrap my +trees against rabbits, and try all ways to destroy them. I prune with +the saw to get the trees up so I can get around them, and believe it +pays, or I would not do it. Have been at it fifteen years, and see no +harm. Don't think it would pay to thin apples on the trees. I believe it +is better to mix varieties in the orchard; I have 7000 Ben Davis and 300 +Winesaps in one orchard, and where the Winesaps are mixed with the Davis +the trees are always fuller. I believe fertilizing would be good, but my +orchard is too large to practice it. I pasture with horses in the +spring, and believe it does no harm, and that it pays. + +Canker-worm is my worst insect pest, and I have been spraying for many +years, using one pound of London purple to 160 gallons of water. I spray +when the blossoms fall, using a big tank and a small engine to pump. I +cannot say that I have reduced the codling-moth any by spraying. I cut +borers out. I sort into two classes, No. 1's and No. 2's, bests and +second bests; best ones go into firsts, and those that are not rotten in +No. 2. I have a table, or what I call a culler; the apples are picked +and put into these cullers; I have twelve men to each culler and a boss +over them. They stand and cull the apples. I have the cullers numbered, +so if any one puts up bad apples I can catch him. I use barrels for the +No. 1's; fill and press so they will not shake. I put them up in good +shape, and sell at wholesale to the first buyer that comes. I ship my +culls and second-grade apples to western Kansas and to Nebraska in cars +in bulk. I never send to commission men. I have never tried drying, or +storing apples for winter. For family use I put away some in barrels, +and keep the above varieties successfully. Prices, last year, two +dollars per barrel; a year ago, one dollar per barrel; two years ago, +$1.50 per barrel. I use any help I can get, paying seventy five cents +per day and board. + + * * * * * + +J. B. AVERY, Clifton, Washington county: Have lived in Kansas +twenty-eight years; have an apple orchard of 1500 trees, from five to +fourteen years planted, three to fifteen inches in diameter. For +planting I prefer two-year-old whips. I cultivate my orchard to potatoes +or any hoed crop, when it is first planted; keep this up as long as the +roots and branches will admit. I have used a disc and common drag harrow +for the last three years. I plant my bearing orchard to clover. I prune +my trees with a pruning knife and saw when necessary. I fertilize my +orchard with thoroughly rotted stable litter. I think it beneficial and +would advise its use on all soils. I have pastured eight acres of my +orchard with calves; have not seen any injury. I sort my apples into +three classes--first, second, and culls. I sell my apples to neighbors, +restaurants, stores, etc. The culls I dry, make cider, feed to pigs, +and give away. Clifton is my best market; have never tried distant +markets. I store some in boxes, barrels and sacks in a cellar. + + * * * * * + +T. S. ANDERSON, Oneida, Nemaha county: Have been in Kansas twenty-seven +years; have an orchard of 1000 trees fifteen years old, ten to eighteen +inches in diameter. Prefer for market Ben Davis and Winesap; for family +use, many kinds. Have discarded Rawle's Janet, Early Pennock, +Bellflower, and Russets. I prefer limestone soil; bottom land with +northern slope. I plant two-year-old, straight-bodied, thrifty looking, +live trees. I cultivate in corn, with riding plow, for six years, and +then seed to grass. I believe a windbreak is essential, and would make +it of Osage orange, maple, or cottonwood. I prevent rabbits and borers +by painting with ashes and lime. I prune with saw and knife to make +larger apples, and give them better color, and think it pays. I do not +thin, and would put fertilizer from the barn-yard on the land. I pasture +my orchard with cattle and hogs, but do not think it advisable. I am +troubled some with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, root aphis, borers, +codling-moth, and curculio, but do not spray. I gather only the best by +hand, and put them immediately in a bin in the cellar. I sell to stores, +use plenty at home, make cider, and feed the hogs on culls. My best +market is Seneca, Kan. Have never tried drying apples. I store for +winter on shallow shelves, six inches deep and two feet wide, in a dry +cellar, and keep them successfully; Ben Davis and Winesap keep the best. +Prices have ranged from twenty-five to seventy-five cents per bushel. I +use common laborers, and pay from one to two dollars per day. + + * * * * * + +HOWARD MORTON, Tescott, Ottawa county: I have lived in Kansas thirty-two +years; I have twenty old apple trees and 400 set two years ago. I prefer +Ben Davis, Gano and York Imperial for market, and Maiden's Blush, Early +Harvest and Winesap for family use. My orchard is in a bottom with a +north slope. I plant two-year-olds with a fair amount of large roots, in +furrows made with a lister, and enlarged with a spade where necessary. I +cultivate with a disc harrow as long as possible, and grow nothing on +the ground among the trees. I believe windbreaks are essential, and +would make them by planting Osage orange, Russian mulberry and +box-elders in rows six feet apart. I do not prune much; only thin out +inside shoots to prevent contact. I believe it pays to thin the fruit +some when the apples are perhaps half grown. I use no fertilizers. I do +not pasture my orchard. I spray a little before the buds swell, after +the blossoms fall, and two weeks later, with Bordeaux mixture, to +prevent wormy apples. I dig out borers with a jack-knife and a small +wire. + + * * * * * + +I. N. MACY, Longford, Clay county: Have lived in Kansas fifteen years; +have 150 apple trees nine years old, from fifteen to eighteen feet high. +For family orchard prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and Jonathan. I prefer +bottom land. I plant two-year-old trees. I cultivate in corn for the +shade as long as there is room, using the plow, cultivator, and harrow, +and cease cropping when trees shade the ground. Windbreaks are +beneficial on the south. I prune to balance the top and prevent the +limbs from chafing; I think it beneficial. I never thin apples. I +fertilize my orchard with barn-yard litter, keeping my ground as rich as +a garden, and would advise its use on all soils. I never pasture my +orchard; it is sure death to it; allow nothing larger than chickens in +it. I spray only for canker-worms, using Paris green and lime, when in +bloom; am successful. I do not irrigate. + + * * * * * + +A. C. GRIESA, Lawrence, Douglas county: I have lived in Kansas thirty +years. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Gano, Jonathan, and Missouri +Pippin, and, for a family orchard, the leading medium early and late +sorts. I prefer upland or second bottom with a clay subsoil; all slopes, +if well drained, are good, excepting south. I prefer good two-year-old +trees, set in land laid off with a plow. I plant my orchard to corn for +four years and use an eight-tooth cultivator; cease cropping when the +trees are four or six inches in diameter; plant clover in a bearing +orchard. Windbreaks are not essential in this locality. For rabbits I +wrap the trees, and dig the borers out. I prune when the trees are young +to thin the top; I think it beneficial and that it pays. I do not thin +the fruit while on the trees, but would advise doing so when the fruit +is one-third grown. I fertilize my orchard with barn-yard litter, and +would advise its use, especially on uplands. I do not pasture my +orchard; do not think it advisable; it does not pay. My trees are +troubled with canker-worm, root aphis, flathead and roundhead borers, +and woolly aphis; and my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray, but +would advise it. I am sure it would reduce the codling-moth. I hand-pick +my apples in a sack over the shoulder. + + * * * * * + +A. G. AXELTON, Randolph, Riley county: I have lived in Kansas forty +years; have an apple orchard of 300 trees eighteen years old, sixteen +feet high. For a family orchard I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, +Winesap, and Maiden's Blush. I prefer black bottom land with a clay +subsoil, and a northern slope. For planting I prefer two-year-old, +straight, smooth trees. I cultivate my orchard till the trees begin to +bear, with a cultivator and hogs, planting nothing. Windbreaks are not +essential. For rabbits I wrap the trees with paper. I do not prune my +trees, nor thin the fruit while on the trees. I do not fertilize. I +pasture my orchard with hogs at certain times in the spring when +worthless apples are dropping. My trees are troubled with canker-worm +and tent-caterpillar. I do not spray. I pick my apples by hand and carry +them to the cellar. I do not store any apples for winter market. + + * * * * * + +C. H. TAYLOR, Eskridge, Wabaunsee county: Have lived in Kansas +thirty-eight years. Have 1400 apple trees, five to fifteen years old, +six to twelve inches in diameter. For market I grow Ben Davis, Missouri +Pippin, and Jonathan; for family orchard I would advise Winesap, Rawle's +Janet, Cooper's Early White, Maiden's Blush, and Jonathan; and I would +discard nearly all others. I prefer bottom land, with black loam and +open subsoil, north slope. Would plant one- or two-year-old, low-top +trees, twenty-five feet apart each way. I have grown root grafts with +success. I shall cultivate as long as the trees live, growing corn among +them until the growth of the trees prevents it. I believe all the +windbreak necessary is an ordinary fence. I use traps for the rabbits +and a knife for the borers. I thin the fruit on the trees in the early +summer, after they are well set. I believe barn-yard fertilizer +beneficial to any orchard. I pasture my orchard with hogs, and think it +advisable, and that it pays. I have some insects, but do not spray; I +burn some. I pick by hand in half-bushel baskets; sort into two classes, +market and cider; pack into barrels, and usually sell in the orchard at +wholesale. Never shipped to a distant market. Do not dry any. Have +stored some for winter in the cellar in bulk, and find that the Missouri +Pippin, Winesap and Rawle's Janet keep the best. I do not irrigate. +Price averages about twenty-five cents per bushel. I use ordinary farm +hands at fifteen to twenty dollars per month. + + * * * * * + +FRANK SEIFERT, Strawberry, Washington county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-eight years; have an apple orchard of 150 trees, from three to +twenty years planted. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, and Winesap, and for family orchard would add Maiden's +Blush. Have tried and discarded Willow Twig on account of blight. I +prefer limestone upland with an eastern aspect. I prefer three-year-old +trees for planting. I cultivate my orchard for eight or ten years with a +plow and harrow. I seed bearing orchard to red clover. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of one row of box-elder and two rows of +plums. I fertilize my orchard with straw and hay, and think it +advisable, on all soils. I never pasture my orchard; it is not +advisable. I do not spray. I pick my apples the old way. [?] Sell my +apples in the orchard. I sometimes store for winter in bulk in an arched +cellar, and am successful. I find the Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin and +Winesap keep equally well. Prices have been from fifty to seventy-five +cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +J. T. TRAVIS, Aurora, Cloud county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-six +years; have an apple orchard of seventy-five trees from five to twenty +years old. I prefer low land, black loam soil with clay subsoil, and a +northern slope. I prefer two-year-old trees, straight, with no forks, +the limbs low down, planted in furrows made by a plow. I cultivate my +orchard as long as I can get through it, with potatoes and sweet corn, +using a harrow often enough to keep weeds down and ground smooth. Cease +cropping when the trees get too large for sweet corn to do any good. +Windbreaks are essential; would make them of Russian mulberry, planted +in two or three rows, eight to ten feet apart, on all sides of the +orchard. I prune little, only enough to thin out the tops and keep limbs +from rubbing each other, and to give light. I fertilize my old orchard +with any kind of coarse stable litter; I pile it in heaps between the +trees and let it lay until it rots. I pasture my orchard with hogs when +it grows to wild rye and is too large for me to plow; I think it +advisable only when the trees get foul; it pays if not pastured with too +many and they are not kept on too long. My trees are troubled with +leaf-roller, and my apples with codling-moth. I have sprayed, but only +to a limited extent. + + * * * * * + +SAM KIMBLE, Manhattan, Riley county: Have been in Kansas thirty-eight +years. Have an orchard of 2500 trees not yet in bearing. They have been +planted three, four and five years. I have set out for market Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, and Winesap, and for family use about thirty kinds, in +variety. I am located on upland, with clay subsoil, mainly northwest +slope. I planted three-year-old trees, stocky and low headed, in holes +twenty-five by thirty feet apart, getting on my knees to work the soil +in about the roots. I crop to corn, cultivating well, and shall keep +this up as long as three rows can be fairly grown between two rows of +trees. I believe in plowing if you do not get too close to the trees. +When my orchard comes into bearing I shall keep up the cultivation but +grow no crop. I believe windbreaks are very desirable, and should make +them of cottonwood, elms, or any quick-growing forest-trees. To keep off +rabbits I tie on corn-stalks with binder twine. I prune carefully to +shorten the heads and keep down watersprouts, and believe it beneficial. +I believe thinning will pay when the fruit sets too thickly. I believe +in lots of fertilization, and use all the stable litter I can get; I +don't think you can use too much. I believe that young calves might be +pastured to advantage in an old orchard. Have not sprayed any, and +depend on rains for water. + + * * * * * + +J. B. STARNS, Fairmount, Leavenworth county: Have lived in the state +forty-one years; have 1800 apple trees, extra large, seventeen years +old. Planted for market Ben Davis, Winesap, Jonathan, and Missouri +Pippin; and for early use Early Harvest, Cooper's Early White, Maiden's +Blush, and the Gennettan. Have discarded the Red June as too small and +falling too badly. My ground is black loam upland, sloping north and +east. I planted two-year-old trees in furrows made by the plow, twenty +by thirty-two feet. Would cultivate in corn for five years, using the +breaking-plow and cultivator; then sow to clover. Windbreaks are not +necessary here. I trap the rabbits. For borers I bank around the trees +in May, and take it away in September; this exposes the tree, and the +borers are taken out easily with a knife. I prune some, and think it +pays to take off watersprouts and shape the tree a little. Do not thin, +and do not fertilize. I pasture in the spring and fall, after the apples +are gathered, with pigs; it is an experiment. I have some +tent-caterpillar, twig-borer, and codling-moth. Have never sprayed any. +I pick in sacks and baskets, emptying into bushel boxes, which are +hauled on wagons made for that purpose, to the place for packing. I make +three grades: shippers, seconds, and cider or driers. The boxes are +taken from the wagon and culled, and shippers packed in barrels; the +rest are put in piles, which are afterward culled, and the seconds put +by themselves. We mark barrels with name of variety, and haul to market +on wagons made for the purpose. We often sell at wholesale in the +orchard; we sell the seconds in bulk. My best market is Leavenworth; +have never shipped any away. Have never dried any, and do not store any +for winter. Prices have ranged from 50 cents to $1.75 per barrel. I use +men only, and pay $1.50 per day. + + * * * * * + +D. N. BARNS, Leavenworth, Leavenworth county: I have lived in Kansas +thirty-seven years; have 2000 apple trees twenty years old. The best for +commercial purposes is New York Pippin [Ben Davis]. For family orchard I +prefer Jonathan, Winesap, Minkler, Huntsman's Favorite, and Lowell. I +have tried and discarded Nonesuch. I prefer bottom land, with black loam +soil and clay subsoil, with south slope, in my locality. I plant good, +stout, thrifty trees, two to three years old, sixteen and one-half by +thirty-three feet apart. I cultivate until the trees are large enough to +shade the ground. In the young orchard, for the first seven or eight +years, I usually grow corn, wheat, or oats; in a bearing orchard I grow +orchard-grass and timothy and clover, separate or together. I have not +yet ceased cropping. I believe windbreaks are essential, made of hills, +trees, or hedge fence. For this purpose I would advise to first find the +hills; then plant the orchard and trees or hedge. I dig out the borers, +and trap or shoot the rabbits. I believe it pays to prune some to get +rid of surplus wood. I believe it pays to thin apples and I do it in +July. I fertilize by pasturing with cows, and believe it pays. Am +troubled with some insects, but have never sprayed. We pick from a +ladder, each man carrying two baskets; we sort into two classes on a +table. In the first class we put apples not damaged too much and large +enough, and in the other we place the small ones. + + * * * * * + +J. F. RUHLIN, Wetmore, Nemaha county: Has been in Kansas seventeen +years. Owns an apple orchard of 1150 trees, set out from one to three +years. Set Ben Davis, Jonathan, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and for family +orchard would add the Maiden's Blush, Rambo, Rome Beauty, and Grimes's +Golden Pippin. Has discarded Early Harvest, Red June, and Red Astrachan. +Wants upland always, north or northeast slope if possible, and a loose, +friable soil, with gravelly subsoil. On planting, he says he uses +two-year-old, short, stocky trees with bushy tops and lots of roots, +which he prunes back at setting. Sets trees deeper than they grew at the +nursery, 20x30 feet. Puts a barrel half full of soil and water on a +sled, and puts ten to twenty trees into it at a time; takes out a tree +and sets it with as little exposure of roots to the air as possible. +Cultivates well, keeping the ground clean in the tree row all summer. +This winter, 1897-'98, he saw fine ten-year-old trees completely girdled +by mice, in an orchard that was neglected last summer, and weeds and +grass allowed to grow next the trees; these held the snow around the +trees, and allowed the mice to burrow under to the tree. Grows corn as a +protection to the trees in summer, using a five-tooth one-horse +cultivator, shallow and often, near the trees, until they begin to bear, +when he sows to clover, and mows frequently. Thinks windbreaks are +essential, and if used would make them of Osage orange or mulberry, not +very close to trees on north and west sides. Protects from rabbits by +wrapping with corn-stalks and will try leaving them on this summer as a +protection from sun-scald. Prunes interlocking limbs to get into shape; +believes it beneficial. Believes thinning would pay on choice varieties +if tree was very full. Believes in using all the barn-yard litter +possible, especially on poor soil. Never has pastured orchard, but might +put in horses or sheep. Thinks it would hardly pay. Never has sprayed, +but believes in it. Digs out borers. Prefers to wholesale fruit in +orchard. + + * * * * * + +JOSEPH C. REA, Brenner, Doniphan county: Have been in Kansas +twenty-seven years. Have 4000 trees six to twelve years old. I prefer +for commercial orchard Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin; add, for family +orchard, Minkler. Discarded Lawver because it did not bear. I prefer +side-hill, clay loam, with a north slope. Prefer trees without forks, +and plant a little deeper than in the nursery. I cultivate with the plow +and cultivator until they begin to bear. I plant a young orchard to +corn, a bearing orchard to clover, and cease cropping when they begin to +bear. Windbreaks are not essential. I wrap my trees with corn-stalks to +protect from rabbits. I prune to improve the fruit, and think it +beneficial. Never dry apples. Think that if Jonathans are planted near +other trees they are better, bigger, and fuller. Winesap and Chenango +Strawberry are varieties adjoining mine. Do not fertilize; would not +advise its use. Do not pasture orchard; not advisable. My trees are +troubled with buffalo tree-hopper. I dig borers out. I pick by hand and +sort from a table. I sort into three classes--first, the fairest and +reddest; second, smaller and paler; third, rough and poor. I prefer +three-bushel barrels to pack in; fill as full as possible, and mark with +my name. I sell in orchard, also wholesale. Leave culls on ground. My +best market is home; the buyers come and get them. I store in barrels, +and find that Minkler and Mammoth Black Twig keep best. I got $1000 for +805 barrels last year. I employ young men and boys, and pay $1.25 to +$1.50 per day. + + * * * * * + +ELI HOFFMAN, Donegal, Dickinson county: Have been in Kansas nineteen +years. Have 500 apple trees, nine years planted, made up of 150 Ben +Davis, 150 Missouri Pippin, 75 Winesap, and 125 of summer and fall +varieties. I prefer bottom land; don't want hilltop, unless level; don't +want any slope; would subsoil the year before planting, then plant +twenty-four feet apart each way the following year. Grow corn or +potatoes the first four years, and after that, nothing. Cultivate up to +nine years old; the disc and corn cultivator are good the first years; I +keep it as clean as a California orange grove; cease cropping after four +years. I think windbreaks are necessary, and would make them of a double +row of mulberries eight feet apart. For rabbits I put wire screen around +the trees. I use the pruning-knife and saw to give air. I would not +pasture an orchard. Have not sprayed, but intend to, with London purple. + + * * * * * + +E. M. GLASPEY, Nortonville, Jefferson county: Have lived in Kansas +fourteen years. Have 700 apple trees from twenty to twenty-five years +old. Prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin and Winesap for market; and +Winesap, Golden Sweet and Early Harvest for family use. I prefer bottom +land with a north aspect, soil suitable for wheat is good for apples; +would turn in cattle after the crop is gathered, and think it pays. When +the bloom falls I spray with London purple. I pick in half-bushel +baskets and place in large piles in the orchard. I sort into three +grades; No. 1 is best, which I generally sell to shippers; No. 2 next, +which I sell in the city to families or to dealers; the culls I peddle +out, and also make into cider. My best market is Atchison. I shipped +once to a commission house in Topeka, but it did not pay. I never dry +any; sometimes I store for winter in bulk in the cellar, and find that +Missouri Pippin and Willow Twig keep the best. I employ men and boys at +seventy-five cents to one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +W. H. TUCKER, Effingham, Atchison county: Has lived in Kansas +thirty-eight years; has an orchard of 500 trees, 200 of them planted +twenty years and 300 planted six years. Advises for commercial orchard +Ben Davis, Gano, and Missouri Pippin, and adds to them for family +orchard Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Genneting, and Jonathan. Has +discarded Smith's Cider. Prefers rich, sandy upland with red clay +subsoil, with a northeast slope. He planted vigorous four-year-old +trees, first plowing, then twice harrowing; then furrow out deeply each +way thirty feet apart, and set a tree at each crossing. He cultivates +with ordinary tools from six to eight years, until trees begin to bear, +growing corn, potatoes or beans in the orchard; then seeds to clover. +Believes windbreaks essential and makes his of soft maple, ash, and +walnut. For rabbits he uses Frazer's axle grease, and kills borers with +knife. Prunes little until after the trees are fifteen years old; prunes +only to give shape and keep from being too brushy. Uses stable manure +and lime as fertilizers and believes it would pay on all soils he ever +saw. Pastures his old orchard with hogs at certain times of the year, +and says it pays. Is troubled some with insects, and sprays twice each +year with London purple. Has not been fully successful. Picks in baskets +and sacks. Makes two grades--selects and sound fair size. Packs only in +barrels; often sells in orchard. For last few years has used a few culls +for vinegar, and let the rest rot on the ground. Best market is at home. +Has tried distant markets and made it pay. Never dries any, and for the +last six years has stored none for winter. Prices have ranged from +twenty to forty cents per bushel. Uses farm help at seventy-five cents +to one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +J. F. HANSON, Olsburg, Pottawatomie county: Have lived in Kansas thirty +years; have an orchard of 1500 trees, ten and twelve years old. Use for +commercial purposes Winesap, Jonathan, and Missouri Pippin. For family +use I add Maiden's Blush and Early Harvest. My land is a black loam, in +the bottom, with an east slope. I plow deep, then list a furrow each +way, and plant at the crossing. I usually grow millet in the orchard for +seven or eight years, and then--if anything--clover or orchard-grass. I +believe windbreaks are essential, and would place on the north and west +sides Osage orange or mulberry trees. For rabbits, I wrap my trees. For +the borers, I use whitewash. I do not pasture. I have some insects, but +have not sprayed. I pick by hand, and sort into two classes, according +to size and quality. I retail my best in the orchard and elsewhere; of +the culls I make cider. I store for winter in barrels in the cellar; am +successful in keeping Winesap, Jonathan, and Missouri Pippin, losing +only about one-tenth. Prices have run from twenty cents to one dollar +per bushel. For picking, I use boys from town. + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM J. HENRY, Lowemont, Leavenworth county: Been in Kansas +twenty-seven years; have 2500 apple trees; 1600 bearing and 900 younger. +For market varieties I use Ben Davis and Jonathan; for family orchard, +Winesap, Rawle's Janet, Maiden's Blush, and Early Harvest. I prefer +bottom land for Ben Davis and hilltop for Jonathan; northeast slope is +best. The soil preferred for most apples should be clay, while for Ben +Davis I prefer black loam. I plant good healthy two-year-olds, +twenty-four by twenty-four feet on the hill, and thirty by thirty feet +in the bottom. I have grown root grafts with great success. I cultivate +in corn for six years, with a diamond and shovel plow, with a single +horse, and by all means avoid a turning plow. After this I grow weeds or +clover, but use a mowing-machine. Windbreaks are essential here, and +should be made of a heavy hedge or forest on the northwest. I wrap with +brown paper for mice and rabbits. Use a knife on borers, which are the +only insects that bother me. I prune to shape the tree when young, and +to increase the quality of the fruit when older; it is beneficial, and +pays. Winds in Kansas are more than sufficient for thinning purposes, +and often thin to excess. I have tried apple trees in blocks of a kind, +and also mixed, and can see no difference in fertility. I use stable +litter, rotten straw, etc.; it is next to cultivation. I would always +use such on thin soil, and on rich soil if it is not cultivated. I turn +any and all kinds of stock in after gathering the fruit, and think it +pays, but I would not allow any live stock in a young orchard. I am +troubled some with canker-worm, flathead borer, and codling-moth. I +spray from the shedding of the bloom until of the size of peas, using +London purple, to perfect the fruit. I believe I have reduced the +codling-moth some. For picking I use good careful hands, with baskets +and ladders. We sort on a cull table in the orchard into No. 1 and No. +2. I prefer eleven-peck barrels, filled full enough to head without +bruising, stencil the end and haul to market in a lumber wagon. I often +sell in the orchard my best apples in barrels; the second grade I often +sell in the orchard, too; third grade I peddle; culls I make into cider. +My best local market is Lowemont; best distant market is Denver, Colo. I +never dry any. I store in an out cellar covered with dirt, in barrels, +and find Winesap keeps the best. I lose about one-tenth. Prices for the +last four years have run from 75 cents to $1.50 per barrel. I use the +most careful men, and pay seventy-five cents and board, or $1.25 without +board. + + * * * * * + +CHAS. WARDEN, Leonardville, Riley county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years; have an apple orchard of 300 trees, from five to +sixteen years planted. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and +Missouri Pippin; and for family, Maiden's Blush, and some other +varieties. I prefer hilltop with black loam and clay subsoil, with an +eastern slope. I plant two- and three-year-old trees in deep furrows +thrown out with a plow. I plant my orchard to potatoes and beans for +eight years, using a cultivator, and cease cropping when the trees shade +the ground; plant nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of soft maple, Russian mulberry, or ash, two +rows around the orchard, three rods from the apple trees. To protect +from rabbits, I wrap the trees with stalks and straw. I prune my trees +with a saw, so that I can get in to pick the fruit. I think it +beneficial. I never thin the fruit while on the trees. I fertilize my +orchard; think it has been beneficial, and would advise it on all soils. +Do not pasture my orchard. Trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar. I +spray after the apples have formed, with London purple, to kill the +insects. After picking my apples, I leave them in piles in the orchard +until cold weather, when I carry them in. Sort into two classes--cider, +and selling; peddle my best apples, and make cider of the second and +third grades. Clay Center is my best market. Never dry any. I store some +for winter on shelves eight inches deep, and am successful. I find +Winesap keeps best. We have to repack stored apples before marketing, +losing about fifteen per cent. I do not irrigate. Price has been +seventy-five cents per bushel. I employ men at one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +PHILLIP LUX, Topeka, Shawnee county: I have lived in Kansas thirty +years. Have an apple orchard of 1200 trees from six to nine years old. +For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, York Imperial, +and Grimes's Golden Pippin, and for family would add to the above +Benoni, Maiden's Blush, Early Harvest, Red June, Duchess of Oldenburg, +Early Ripe, and Yellow Transparent. Have tried and discarded Willow +Twig, Smith's Cider, Kansas Keeper, Wagener, Talman Sweet and White +Winter Pearmain on account of blight and other good reasons. I prefer +clay upland and subsoil, with northeast aspect. I use only number one +two-year-old trees, planted in furrows opened up with a plow, and deep +enough to receive them without the use of a spade. I plant sixteen by +thirty-two feet. I cultivate my orchard to corn for four or five years, +using a hoe, plow, and five-shovel cultivator with one horse; cease +cropping after four or five years; grow clover and weeds in a bearing +orchard, mowing twice a year and let lay on the ground. Windbreaks are +not absolutely necessary. For rabbits I find wood veneers to be best and +cheapest; they come in blocks; turn one end to the sun or fire to dry; +then put on coal-tar and stick this end in the ground. I prune a little +during the first five years after planting, keeping the heaviest part of +top to the southwest. It will always pay if judiciously done. I never +thin my apples while on the trees. Do not pasture the orchard with +anything but chickens; it pays in eggs. My trees are troubled with +roundhead borer, fall web-worm, leaf-roller, and canker-worm, and my +apples with codling-moth. Have not sprayed, but soon intend to, with +London purple. I dig borers out with a knife. I pick apples in +half-bushel baskets; sort into two classes, putting all fine, sound and +good size in first grade. I pack in three-bushel barrels and send to +market as soon as ready by railroad. I sometimes sell my apples in the +orchard. I also wholesale and retail, and sell the second and third +grades where I can get the most for them; feed the culls to stock or let +rot. Have tried distant markets and found it paid. Do not dry any. + + * * * * * + +FAYETTE A. SMITH, Belleville, Republic county: I have lived in Kansas +thirty-one years; have an orchard of 200 apple trees from six to eight +years old. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and +Missouri Pippin; and for family, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Rawle's +Janet. I have tried and discarded Cooper's Early White; it is too +tender. I prefer two feet of good soil on a hill; don't care what is +below if drainage is good; think a northern slope best. I prefer fresh, +vigorous, two-year-old trees with well-formed top, set in land plowed +for two preceding years in deep furrows both ways; open holes with hoe, +then tramp dirt well around roots. I cultivate my orchard with corn or +potatoes for ten or fifteen years, using a small one-horse stirring +plow, wrapping the ends of the singletree. Cease cropping when the trees +get too large. Windbreaks are not essential, but think they might be +beneficial to some kinds, on the south side, to protect from hot winds. +Would make them of Russian mulberry or willows. Any smell of blood or +fresh meat will keep the rabbits off; I do not like wrappers, as they +harbor vermin. I prune my trees some, cutting out small limbs to let in +light; think it beneficial. I thin the fruit on my trees by knocking +them off with a pole, if I can't do better, at any time; it pays when +overloaded. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; do not put it +close to trees; think it beneficial if not too coarse; would advise its +use on soils where it will not force too rank a growth. I pasture my +orchard with growing calves, but do not think it advisable; it does not +pay. My trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar, flathead borer, and +leaf-roller; and my apples with codling-moth and curculio. I do not +spray; but think it would be beneficial. I pick my apples from a common +orchard platform ladder. Do not raise any apples for market. Do not dry +or store any, or irrigate. Prices have been twenty-five to sixty cents +in the fall, fifty cents to one dollar in the winter. Average about +sixty cents per bushel for good apples. Dried apples have been five to +seven cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +J. F. CECIL, North Topeka, Shawnee county: I have lived in Kansas twenty +years. Have an apple orchard of 200 trees, six to eight years planted, +three to four inches in diameter. I prefer for market Winesap, Grimes's +Golden Pippin, York Imperial, and Missouri Pippin; and for family +orchard Red June, Benoni, Summer Rambo, Grimes's Golden Pippin, +Jonathan, Winesap, and Rawle's Janet. My orchard is situated on a hill. +I prefer mulatto soil, with red subsoil. I prefer young, thrifty trees, +planted in furrows made with a plow and subsoiler. I plant my orchard +four to six years with any cultivated crop; if it is corn or potatoes I +use an ordinary corn cultivator; at other times I use an Acme harrow. I +cease cropping when the trees begin to bear, and then plant to clover. +Windbreaks are essential; I would make them of Osage orange, evergreens, +or any body of timber, placed so remote that the orchard is not deprived +of its nourishment. For rabbits I wrap the trees, and use potash for +borers. I trim my trees while young with a knife, to encourage low +heads; it pays if done moderately. It pays to thin Winesap and Rawle's +Janet while on the trees. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; +would advise its use on all soils. Do not pasture my orchard. Trees are +troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, bagworm, flathead borer, +buffalo tree-hopper, fall web-worm, leaf-miner, and leaf-crumpler; and +my apples with codling-moth and curculio. I have spayed with Paris green +for the above-mentioned insects; am satisfied that I have checked them. + + * * * * * + +JAMES M. WILLIAMS, Home, Nemaha county: I have lived in Kansas nearly +eighteen years. I have 400 apple trees, fifteen years planted, and of +good size. I prefer bottom land, black soil, with clay and limestone +subsoil, sloping a little to the south. I prefer to plant good +three-year-old trees, twenty-four by thirty feet apart; I cultivate all +the time with cultivator and harrow. I grow corn in the orchard from +eight to ten years, and oats after that. I think windbreaks are +essential, and would make them of native timber, planted south of the +orchard. I prune with a knife and saw, and believe it makes the fruit +larger and better; I never thin on the tree. I like to put plenty of +stable litter and old straw at the roots of the tree in winter. I +pasture with hogs after the oats come up; they eat all the windfall +apples and thus destroy insects. Am troubled some with caterpillars, +borers, and codling-moth. Have never sprayed any. I pick by hand in +sacks, from step-ladders, and put in piles. We sort by hand into three +classes--No. 1's and No. 2's for market, and No. 3 for the hogs. I sell +my best by the wagon-load in the orchard; my seconds I sell the same +way, but cheaper. I never dry any. I store in the cellar, in barrels, +for winter sales to winter dealers. I find the best keepers are Winesap +and Rawle's Janet. Prices in the fall, forty cents; in the winter, +seventy-five cents. I hire men for help and pay one dollar per day and +board. + + * * * * * + +H. C. COOPER, Morganville, Clay county: I have been in Kansas +twenty-eight years; have 300 apple trees, planted fifteen and nineteen +years. The best for commercial purposes are Winesap, Missouri Pippin, +Ben Davis, and Rome Beauty; for family use, Red Astrachan, Early +Harvest, Grimes's Golden Pippin and Winesap. I have tried and discarded +Willow Twig; it rots on the tree, and, by the time it gets to bearing, +dies. The Snow rots on the south side and dies. The Keswick Codlin is a +good bearer but too short-lived. I prefer side-hill, sloping to the +north, soil a black loam, without hard-pan or joint clay. I prefer trees +two years old, limbs two feet from the ground and not too heavy top, set +thirty-five feet apart, at the junction of furrows run out both ways +with a lister. I grow nothing in an orchard. Do not cultivate. I simply +keep down the weeds, and let the tree take care of itself. I don't think +the roots should be troubled in Kansas. I believe windbreaks are +essential; and would put them of box-elder on the north and west of the +orchard. For protection against rabbits, when you first set your tree +take a good handful of slough-grass long enough to reach to the first +limb, tie at the top, in the middle, and bottom, and leave it on till it +rots off; neither rabbits, borers nor sun-scald will trouble a tree thus +covered. Cut out watersprouts; but never cut off a limb without good +reason. Put stable litter around your trees in a circle for the first +three years. Never pasture the orchard. Am troubled with some insects, +and have never sprayed but four trees as an experiment; the apples did +not rot or fall off. We pick by hand from a ladder, and sort and place +in piles in the cellar, each kind by itself. I market my best apples at +home, selling some in the orchard; the culls I make into vinegar. I +store some for winter in bulk in a cellar cave, and find that the +Winesap and Missouri Pippin keep the best. I pay fifty cents per day for +help. + + * * * * * + +J. B. WILCOX, Muscotah, Atchison county: Have lived in Kansas +thirty-five years; have 4000 trees seventeen years planted. Prefer +Winesap, Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis for market, and would add +Grimes's Golden Pippin, and Jonathan for family orchard. Have tried and +discarded many varieties. I prefer a black loam, with clay subsoil, on a +northern slope. I cultivate for six or eight years in corn, and then +seed to clover. Do not think windbreaks are a necessity. I pasture my +orchard with horses and cattle; don't think it advisable, and don't +think it pays. I am troubled with canker-worm and round-headed borers. I +spray with Paris green for canker-worm, and dig borers out with the +knife. I sell my best fruit at wholesale, often in the orchard. With the +poorest culls I do nothing. I find my best market right at home. Prices +have ranged from seventy-five cents to two dollars per barrel. I pay +three cents per bushel for gathering. + + * * * * * + +GEO. A. WISE, Reserve, Brown county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-nine +years. Have an orchard of 22,000 apple trees; 150 are eighteen years +old, the rest are twenty-four years old. I have the Ben Davis, Gano, +Jonathan, York Imperial, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin, and for my own +use add to the above Grimes's Golden, and some summer varieties. I have +tried and discarded Willow Twig as short-lived, and Northern Spy for shy +bearing. In this county I would choose upland, northern slope, with +black loam soil. Would plant two-year-old, sound trees, without fork, +thirty-three feet apart each way, and three inches deeper than they grew +in the nursery. I cultivate thoroughly, planting to corn from six to +eight years. I use a disc harrow and one-horse, five-tooth cultivator; I +then sow to red clover, and cease cropping when the limbs reach out far +enough to prevent me passing through with the hay-rack. While I would +not object to a windbreak on the south side, I do not think it +necessary. I wrap my trees with grass and am not bothered with rabbits. +I believe in pruning trees while young; I cut off limbs that do not +stand at an angle of forty-five degrees, and thin out to prevent being +top-heavy. I have never thinned apples on the trees, but believe it +would pay. I fertilize the ground all over with stable litter. I believe +it does no harm and pays to pasture the orchard with hogs. I have never +sprayed any. I pick apples by hand from a step-ladder into half-bushel +measures, and sort into three grades--first, sound, and not wormy; +second, may be wormy, but otherwise sound; third, cider. I pack in +barrels, and sell at wholesale, usually in the orchard. I sell the +second-grade apples in bulk; make culls into cider and feed to horses +and cattle. Never have tried a distant market. Never dried any. +Sometimes store a few for winter in bulk in a cave; not satisfactory. +Find that the Winesap and Missouri Pippin keep best. Some years apples +keep better than they do others. Have never tried irrigation. Prices +have varied from sixty cents to $1.25 per barrel. I use all kinds of +help, paying from seventy-five cents to one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +H. M. RICE, Muscotah, Atchison county: Have resided in Kansas +twenty-eight years. Have an apple orchard of 8000 trees--5000 one year +planted, 500 five years planted, 1000 seven years planted, 500 nine +years planted, 1000 ten years planted. Planted for commercial purpose +Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Grimes's Golden Pippin, and for family +use advise Winesap, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Jonathan, Red June, Rawle's +Janet, and Romanite. Declare Golden Russet and Sops of Wine no good. Use +upland; prefer north or northeast slope; any good corn land will do. +Plant good, thrifty two-year-old trees, eighteen feet apart north and +south, and thirty-four feet apart east and west. Am trying 5000 root +grafts. Cultivate with five-tooth cultivator with twenty-inch +singletree, and a mule; up to bearing age, with corn and potatoes as a +ground crop; after that seed to clover. Do not think windbreaks +essential for large orchards; would advise three rows of soft maples +around small orchards. Use against rabbits a wash of equal parts +carbolic acid and water. It pays to remove watersprouts. Use all the +barn-yard litter available. Pasture with horses and colts in winter +only; it pays. Spray from the time the leaves appear until the apples +are as big as hickory-nuts, to kill canker-worm, codling-moth, and +leaf-crumpler. For borers, wash trees about June 1 with equal parts +carbolic acid and water, and if any get in after that dig them out with +a knife. Sort into firsts, seconds, and culls. Use barrels well shaken +and pressed, marked with variety and name of grower. Usually wholesale +as soon as picked. Make culls into vinegar when I cannot sell them in +bulk. Never dried any, and put none away for winter except a few in +boxes for family use. Find that Missouri Pippin, Rawle's Janet and +Romanite keep the best. Prices run from $1.50 to $3 per barrel. Use men, +women, and boys, and pay 1-1/2 to 2 cents per bushel for hand picking. + + * * * * * + +H. C. RIGGS, Wetmore, Nemaha county: Has lived in Kansas twenty-seven +years; has an orchard of 400 trees, set from two to twenty years. +Advises for market Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and for family +use adds Cooper's Early White, Red June, and Jonathan. Has discarded +Willow Twig and White Winter Pearmain, because both "rot on the trees." +Prefers porous clay or loam in dry bottom, with north aspect. Plants +two-year-old, low-top, fibrous-rooted trees with a spade, after marking +out both ways with a plow. Grows corn and potatoes in orchard, and +cultivates up to eight or ten years with double-shovel plow. Would put +windbreaks of cottonwood or soft maple on southern exposure. Protects +from rabbits by wrapping. Prunes with saw and chisel, and says it pays. +Uses well-rotted stable litter while orchard is young. Thinks cautious +pasturing with hogs or young calves would pay. Is troubled with some +insects, but does not spray. Picks and sorts into three classes: "Winter +storage," "immediate use," and "cider apples." Sells mostly in orchard. +Dries only for family use. Stores in bulk, and finds that Ben Davis +keeps best. Says that his trees that got the waste water from the well +were much benefited. Price, about seventy-five cents per barrel. + + * * * * * + +P. S. TAYLOR, Eskridge, Wabaunsee county: Have been in Kansas thirty-two +years; have 1100 trees planted eleven years, that are now thirty-two +inches in circumference. I prefer for market Ben Davis, Jonathan, +Missouri Pippin, and York Imperial, and for family use would advise +Jonathan, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Winesap, and York Imperial. Have +discarded Rawle's Janet, Cooper's Early White, and Smith's Cider, also +Winesap as a market apple. Prefer a deep, sandy loam, with clay subsoil, +bottom or slope land, with northeast aspect. Plant thrifty, +medium-sized, three-year-old trees twenty feet apart north and south, +and forty feet east and west. I cultivate for six years in corn and +potatoes; then sow to clover, plowing this under every third or fourth +year, using the Acme harrow run shallow. I believe windbreaks are +beneficial, and would prefer two rows of white elms mismatched. I wrap +the trunks of trees, for protection against rabbits. I believe in +pruning out all watersprouts and crossing branches; it facilitates +gathering and the fruit colors better. I have tried thinning on Missouri +Pippins, Winesaps, and Romanites, knocking them off with a pitchfork. I +believe in fertilizing orchards on all prairie soils with barn-yard +litter. I pasture my orchard when the trees are vigorous and the soil +not wet, with calves and pigs; I believe it pays if done with +moderation. I spray after the petals fall, using Paris green for +codling-moth, and believe I have reduced them. For borers I use a knife +and wire. I pick by hand in half-bushel baskets and sort into three +classes: perfect, medium size, and culls. We sort from bins in a light, +airy shed, and pack carefully by hand into standard barrels, marked +firsts and seconds, and haul to market on springs. I sell my second +grade fruit to western wagoners; we feed culls to hogs and cows. We do +best in our home market. For winter we store in bins in the cellar, and +are usually successful. Prices have ranged from fifty cents to one +dollar. For help I employ only my three sons, and give them an interest +in the proceeds. + + * * * * * + +THOMAS ARBUTHNOT, Cuba, Republic county: Have been in Kansas thirty +years. Have 6000 apple trees nine years old. I prefer two-year-old +trees, five to six feet tall, planted after a lister run as deep as +possible. I cultivate with the plow and disc, growing corn in the +orchard for six or seven years; after that nothing. I believe in +windbreaks. I prune a little. Never thin the fruit. Do not use any +fertilizer on the ground, and never pasture the orchard. I do not spray, +but use a torch every evening to burn the insects; one torch will draw +the insects about 300 feet, and we think this better than spraying. +[Such lights are liable to destroy as many beneficial as noxious +insects.] I sell to wagons, as there is sufficient demand here from the +western counties to take in that way all that I have to spare. Have +never dried any, nor stored any for winter. I do not irrigate. Prices +have been, twenty-five cents for culls, and forty to fifty cents per +bushel for everything else. My orchard is only commencing to bear fruit +on all the trees. + + * * * * * + +ELBRIDGE CHASE, Padonia, Brown county: Have lived in Kansas thirty-nine +years. Have 2800 apple trees thirteen years old, running from five to +eight inches in diameter, made up of equal numbers of Ben Davis, +Jonathan, Winesap, and Rawle's Janet. I would discard the latter. I +prefer hilltop with deep vegetable or sandy loam. My trees are doing +best on an eastern slope. I plant thrifty four-year-olds. I believe in +cultivation with the plow and disc harrow until the trees shade the +ground so that weeds cannot grow much. I grow corn for a few years, then +clover for two years, after that no crop whatever. Have no use for +windbreaks, and use lath two feet long stuck in the ground around the +trees to protect from rabbits. I prune with a saw, knife, and shears, to +keep the trees in good shape and not too brushy, and believe it pays. I +do not believe it would pay to thin apples on the tree. I would not +pasture my orchard. I do not spray. I gather in sacks hung over the +shoulder, as for sowing grain. Sort into two classes, packed into +three-bushel barrels, pressed in and marked with the name of the +variety. I sell at wholesale, but never have sold in the orchard. +Minneapolis, Minn., has been my best market. We use part of the culls +for cider. Never dried any. Do not store any for winter, and do not +irrigate. Prices have ranged at from one dollar to two dollars per +bushel. I use men and boys, and pay from two to three cents per bushel +for fruit left in baskets at foot of trees. For other work than picking +I pay $1.25 per day. + + * * * * * + +J. H. BATEMAN, Holton, Jackson county: Have lived in Kansas forty years. +Have 900 apple trees; 200 have been planted twenty-five years, 700 have +been planted four years. Have made more money out of Ben Davis than any +other. For family use my choice is White Winter Pearmain and Rawle's +Janet. I have tried and discarded Dominie and Winesap. I prefer hilltop, +with northeast slope, and a deep, friable soil; hard clay is not good. I +would plant two- or three-year-olds, in a deep furrow, preferably +subsoiled. Would cultivate as long as it don't cut the roots, with a +two-horse cultivator, and would grow corn four or five years, then seed +to clover. I believe windbreaks are very beneficial; would make them of +walnut or maple. Osage orange is fairly good; all may be raised from +young trees or seed. I wrap young trees in the fall with paper to +protect from rabbits. I prune with the knife to prevent friction. Never +tried thinning on the trees; believe it would be beneficial. Fertilizers +make the trees thriftier, but cause the roots to run nearer the surface; +consequently the trees suffer more in drought. I have pastured to a +limited extent with calves and horses; hogs injure the trees. The worst +insects I have are the flat-headed borer, which I cut out, and the +curculio. Have never sprayed, but think I will. We pick from a ladder +into pails or baskets and sort into two classes; we pick the best from +the trees, and shake the others to the ground. I sometimes sell in the +orchard; I wholesale when I can, but sell more to the buyers at the +railroad station. I make some cider, and feed the balance of the culls +to hogs. Our best markets are the apple buyers at Holton. Have never +shipped any or dried any. I store only for home use, in boxes in my +cellar, and find that Rawle's Janet and Romanite are the best keepers. I +use farm hands at from seventeen dollars to twenty dollars per month. + + * * * * * + +JOHN GRAVES, Day, Washington county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-one +years. Have an orchard of 6025 trees; 25 of these have been planted +twenty years, 400 seventeen years, 1200 ten years, 400 seven years, 4000 +two years. For market I grow Winesap and Ben Davis. For family use I add +Missouri Pippin, Snow, and Early Harvest. Winesap best of all. I prefer +hilltop, as the gophers are bad on the bottom. I prefer a black soil +with lots of gravel and small stones in it. Believe that north and east +slopes are best. I plant two-year-old trees with short bodies, +twenty-five feet apart each way. I cultivate with corn for about ten +years, using the stirring plow and cultivator. I believe windbreaks are +essential, and would use four rows of cherry trees set close together, +or a row of hedge or box-elder, mainly on the south; some on the north. +For protection from rabbits I tie corn-stalks around the trees, and keep +them on for three or four years, winter and summer. I prune some with +the pocket-knife and saw. I do not thin the fruit unless I think the +limbs are going to break. I would use no fertilizer unless the soil is +very poor. Never pasture the orchard. I sprayed one year with London +purple, using a barrel with a pump in it. I could not see that it did +any good, so I let them go. I pick in buckets from a step-ladder. People +come from the west with wagons and take the apples right out of the +orchard, and they don't sort much. I make some culls into cider and let +the rest lay under the trees and rot. The price last year was +seventy-five cents per bushel, and the year before thirty-five cents. I +store a few for winter in thin layers, one above another, in a rack in +the cellar, and am successful. Winesaps keep the best. For picking I use +good careful men at one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +GODFREY FINE, Maxson, Osage county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-nine +years. I have 700 trees planted, five, ten and twenty-seven years. For +market I use Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis; for family use I plant Early +Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Lowell and Jonathan for summer, and Missouri +Pippin and Winesap for winter. If I were putting out now I would only +plant Missouri Pippin and Winesap. I prefer bottom, and such soil as has +formerly been brush and timber land. A part of my orchard slopes a +little to the south. I plant thrifty two-year-olds, with the top leaning +to the southwest. I cultivate until they begin bearing; the plow is as +good a tool as any, but care must be taken not to injure the roots. The +best crop is buckwheat or potatoes; I have had strawberries and +blackberries in the orchard, but do not consider it best; I cease +cropping after they come into bearing. I believe in windbreaks; I do not +know what would be best; mine is protected by natural forest-trees and +Osage-orange hedge. To protect from borers, I use a wash with lye or +strong soap-suds. I tie corn-stalks around young trees to protect from +rabbits. I believe it pays to prune with the saw to improve the quality +of the fruit. I think stable litter is good for old orchards, but should +not be put close up around the body of the tree. I should pasture very +little, as stock of all kinds destroy the trees and injure the fruit. I +have sprayed little, but cannot say much about it. I pick by hand, and +do not pack at all, as those that I do not find a market for here at +home I sell to shippers. I sell many in the orchard, and when there is a +full crop I sell to shippers and they grade and mark them. I sell culls +for cider when there is a call for them. I tried drying, but did not +find it profitable. I do not store any apples for winter, as I have no +good place. Prices per bushel have ranged from twenty-five to fifty-five +cents. I use men for help, and pay seventy-five cents per day. + + * * * * * + +JESSE WOLVERTON, Barnes, Washington county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-three years; have an apple orchard of 6000 trees, five to +twenty-one years planted. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, and Jonathan, and for family +orchard would add Early Harvest, Oldenburg, and Smith Cider. Have tried +and discarded Willow Twig, Lawver, Talman's Sweeting, Stark, Wagener, +Missouri Superior and Red Astrachan on account of blight and shy +bearing. I prefer hilltop or bottom with a porous subsoil which is +reasonably rich. My trees planted on hard-pan are dying. I prefer +two-year-old, straight, thrifty trees, planted in land prepared as for +corn. I cultivate my orchard to corn (once to broom-corn) as long as the +corn does well, using a double shovel and a twelve-inch plow. I sow +bearing orchard to oats, one bushel to the acre, and let stand. Cease +cropping after seven or eight years. To protect the trees from rabbits I +wrap with long grass. I prune some to form heads two or three feet from +the ground, and cut all watersprouts with a knife; but do little of this +until the trees are twelve years planted. Have thinned apples on trees; +it does not pay. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard +with all the barn-yard litter I can get, and think it beneficial. A +neighbor fertilizes his orchard very heavily and receives splendid +crops. I pasture six acres of my orchard with hogs; they keep it well +cultivated; have not thought it an injury yet. No orchard ought to be +seeded to grass in this county. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, +tent-caterpillar, and leaf-crumpler; my apples with codling-moth and +gouger. I sprayed twice last year with London purple, one or two pounds +[?] to a barrel of water, before and after they blossomed; it was an +utter failure. When the worms appeared I increased the amount to three +pounds to the barrel, without any effect. [This must have been poor +London purple.--Sec.] I gather my apples in sacks with a hoop in the +open end; then put on the sorting table, using bushel boxes and a wagon +with a plank platform to haul them on. I sort into three classes: +firsts, seconds, and culls. Sell firsts in orchard to Ryan & Richardson; +sell second and third grades to teams. Make cider of the culls and those +we cannot sell. My best markets are north and northwest. I never dry +any. I store from 5 to 700 bushels in a basement under granary, and am +fairly successful; find Ben Davis and Rawle's Janet keep best. Do not +irrigate. Prices have been from twenty-five to seventy-five cents per +bushel. I employ men, and pay from fifty cents to one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +THEODORE OLSEN, Green, Clay county: I have lived in Kansas thirty years. +Have an apple orchard of 200 trees, fifteen feet high, eighteen years +old. I prefer for commercial purposes Ben Davis and Winesap, on second +bottom, black soil, with a northeast slope. I plant three-year-old +trees, not very deep, and cultivate my orchard to corn, using a +cultivator run very shallow every year, and cease cropping when they +begin to bear; then plant nothing. Windbreaks are essential here; I have +trees planted around my orchard. I protect from rabbits by wrapping the +trees with corn-stalks. I never prune, and do not thin the fruit on the +trees. I fertilize my orchard with straw, and would advise its use on +all soils. I do not pasture my orchard. My trees are troubled with +flathead borers and leaf-crumplers, and my apples by gouger. I spray +with Paris green in June; have not reduced the codling-moth. Pick my +apples; sort into two classes, pack in bushel boxes, sell in the +orchard, also retail; I make cider of culls. My best market is Green. I +never dry any. I store some in boxes in a cellar, and am fairly +successful; I find Ben Davis keeps best. We have to repack stored apples +before marketing, losing about ten per cent. Do not irrigate. Prices +have been from twenty-five cents to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +HARRY L. BROWN, Muscotah, Atchison county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-two years. Have an apple orchard of 150 trees, ten to twenty-five +years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, Jonathan, Missouri +Pippin, and Grimes's Golden Pippin; and for family orchard Maiden's +Blush, Early Harvest, Red June, Smith's Cider, and Rambo. I prefer +hilltop, with a deep, sandy loam, and a gravel subsoil, northeast slope. +I prefer two-year-old, straight, thrifty trees, carefully set, 30x35 +feet. I plant my orchard to corn, potatoes, beans and garden-truck for +ten or twelve years, using a one-horse cultivator between the rows and +around the trees, and cease cropping after twelve or fifteen years; +plant strawberries or small fruits in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of two rows of evergreens planted around the +orchard. I trap the rabbits, and wash and cut out the borers. I prune to +thin and keep the tree in shape; think it beneficial, and that it pays. +I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. My trees are in mixed +plantings. I fertilize my orchard with horse- and cow-stable litter; +think it beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils, unless very +rich. I pasture my orchard with nothing but chickens; it is not +advisable; does not pay. My trees are troubled with flathead and +twig-borers, leaf-rollers and crumplers; and my apples with codling-moth +and curculio. I do not spray. I pick my apples from ladders into baskets +and sacks, and sort, as I gather them, into three classes: perfectly +sound, second best, and culls. I pack in baskets and boxes. I retail and +peddle my apples; feed the culls to stock. My best markets are near-by +towns; never tried distant markets. We sun-dry some, and pack in sacks +and boxes; we find a ready market for them; it pays. Am successful in +storing apples for home use in boxes and bins in a cellar, and find Ben +Davis, Winesap, Rawle's Janet and Smith's Cider keep the best. I have to +repack stored apples before marketing. Do not irrigate. Prices have been +from forty to fifty cents per bushel, and dried apples five cents per +pound. I pay men eighteen to twenty dollars per month, or one dollar per +day. + + * * * * * + +F. W. WILCOX, Corning, Nemaha county: I have resided in the state +twenty-three years; have an apple orchard of seventy-five trees, all +sizes and ages. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and Wealthy. I +prefer a dark, loose soil, on a hillside with a north and east slope. I +prefer good, healthy three-year-old trees, set in holes dug two feet +deep and three feet across. I plant my orchard to sweet corn, using a +cultivator, and cease cropping when I think necessary and seed down to +red clover. Windbreaks are essential--would make them of Osage orange. I +prune my trees with a saw to give shape; I think it pays. I do not thin +the fruit while on the trees. I fertilize my orchard with rotten stable +litter, but would not advise its use on all soils. I pasture my orchard +with horses, and think it advisable, and that it pays. My trees are +troubled with canker-worms, tent-caterpillar and flathead borer. I do +not spray. I pick my apples by hand in pails. Sort into three +classes--first, second, and cast out. I do not dry any. I store a few +for winter market. I do not irrigate. + + * * * * * + +JAMES ANDERSON, Leonardville, Riley county. I have lived in Kansas +seventeen years; have an apple orchard of 200 trees from one to sixteen +years old, four to sixteen feet high. For market I prefer Winesap, +Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, and Ben Davis, and for a family orchard Early +Harvest, Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Jonathan, and Ben Davis. I prefer +bottom land with black loam and clay subsoil, with a southern slope. +When setting trees, I dig holes four feet in diameter and three feet +deep; put black loam in the bottom for the roots. I plant my orchard to +potatoes for three or four years, using a plow. I cease cropping at the +end of this time, and mow, and leave everything on the ground. Sow red +or white clover in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential on the +north and south sides of the orchard; would make them of maple, +cottonwood, or Osage orange. I have Osage orange on the north and a +creek with native timber on the south. For rabbits I wrap the trees. +When I see a black spot on a tree I hunt for and dig borers out. I prune +off all the interfering branches and watersprouts. I do this for fruit; +it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. I keep the +varieties together when planting. I fertilize my orchard by putting +stable litter a foot thick on the north side, which is the highest, and +when it rains the liquid from it runs all the way down and +fertilizes the trees. I think it beneficial, and would advise its use on +all soils. I do not pasture my orchard. It is not advisable, and does +not pay. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, and my apples with +codling-moth. I have sprayed with all the sprays recommended, and think +I have reduced the codling-moth a little. I pick my apples by hand from +a step-ladder, and sort into two classes--sound, wormy and windfalls. +Put the sound ones in the cellar; make cider of the others. I sell +apples in the orchard, mostly at retail. They sell the best in town in +the winter. My best market is in towns west of here. I have tried +distant markets, but it did not pay. I do not dry any. I store a few +apples in boxes, barrels, and bulk, in a cellar. Those that keep best +are Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, and Jonathan. Have to repack +stored apples before marketing; lose about ten per cent. The average +price has been fifty cents per bushel. I employ men at twenty dollars +per month. + + * * * * * + +F. A. SCHERMERHORN, Ogden, Riley county: I have lived in the state +thirty-eight years. Have an apple orchard of 4000 trees from twelve to +thirty-seven years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri +Pippin, and Jonathan; and for a family orchard Winesap, Rawle's Janet, +Missouri Pippin, Maiden's Blush, and Early Harvest. I have tried and +discarded Willow Twig and Smith's Cider on account of blight; and +McAfee, Snow and Lawver on account of shy bearing. I prefer rolling land +having a clay loam and clay subsoil. I prefer two-year-old trees, with +heads twenty inches from the ground, set in the spring, about two rods +apart. I cultivate all the time, even in bearing orchards, using an Acme +harrow, planting corn; cease cropping after four years; put nothing in a +bearing orchard. Windbreaks are not essential if the orchard is large. +For rabbits I wrap the trees. I dig borers out with a knife. I prune my +trees, and think it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. My +trees are planted in blocks--800 Ben Davis in one and 700 Missouri +Pippins in another; all bear well. I fertilize my orchard some, but not +much. I think it would be beneficial on poor soil, but would not advise +it on all soils. I pasture my orchard with horses after the fruit is +gathered; can't see any harm. My trees are troubled with canker-worm and +root aphis, and my apples with codling-moth. I spray as soon as the +bloom falls, and two or three times afterward, with arsenic, for +insects. Think I have reduced the codling-moth. I wash young trees twice +during the summer season with diluted soft soap for borers. Pick my +apples by hand, and sort into two classes. I pack in the standard apple +barrel, fill with a head press, mark with variety and grade, and haul to +depot on wagon. I sometimes sell apples in the orchard by the +wagon-load. I ship my best apples, and sell the culls for what I can +get. My best market is west. Have tried distant markets and found it +paid. I do not dry any. I am successful in storing apples in barrels; +Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin keep best. I do not irrigate. Prices last +fall were two dollars per barrel or fifty cents per bushel to wagoners. +I employ men at one dollar per day and board. + + * * * * * + +A. CHANDLER, Argentine, Wyandotte county. Have lived in the state +twenty-two years; have an apple orchard of 400 trees from one to nine +years old. For market I prefer Jonathan, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Ben +Davis, and York Imperial; and for family orchard Huntsman's Favorite, +Maiden's Blush, and Jonathan. Have tried and discarded Grimes's Golden +Pippin and Smith's Cider on account of blight. I prefer hilltop, with a +clay soil and a light subsoil, and an east slope, as it will get the +morning sun and no southwest winds. I prefer two-year-old trees five to +six feet high, well branched, set twenty-eight by thirty feet; I also +have some twenty by thirty feet. I plant my orchard to corn, potatoes, +tomatoes and cabbage for seven years, using a cultivator and harrow (I +like the Acme and spading harrow). Cease cropping after seven years; +plant bearing orchard to blackberries and raspberries, but this is not +advisable; clover or cow-peas are better. Windbreaks are essential on +the prairie; would make them of a double row of Osage orange or +evergreens, on the south and west. For rabbits I wrap the trees with +paper or veneering, and for borers I mound the tree up. I prune a little +with my pocket-knife to remove dead and crossed limbs; it does not pay +to saw and chop. I thin my fruit by hand when the crop is heavy, not +later than July 15. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize my +orchard with ashes and bone-meal; both are beneficial, but not necessary +in good potash soils. + +I pasture my orchard with six-months-old pigs--think it advisable in an +orchard that is over four years old. My trees are troubled with +canker-worms, round- and flathead borers and tent-caterpillar, and my +trees with codling-moth, curculio, and gouger. I spray with London +purple and Paris green, using a hand pump. For borers I wash the trees +with whale-oil soap, carbolic acid, and sulphur, and then mound the +trees up. I pick my apples in baskets, from a ladder wide at the bottom +and narrow at the top, and leave the apples in the orchard four to six +weeks, then sort into three classes, from a padded table 5x12 feet, +sloping; pack into twelve-peck barrels, mark with variety, and haul to +market on a spring wagon. Sometimes I sell apples in the orchard at +retail; pack my best apples in one-peck baskets for stand trade, my +second grade in barrels. Feed the culls to the hogs; cider does not pay. +My best market is Kansas City. Have tried distant markets, but it did +not pay--too great freight and commission charges. I am successful in +storing apples in barrels in an earth cave five feet deep, earth sides +and roof; keep it open when not freezing; apples can be stored in bulk +by leaving a space of six inches at the sides and bottom. Jonathan and +Gano keep best. I have tried artificial cold storage and lost fifteen +per cent. of my apples. I found it too expensive and unreliable. I have +to repack the stored apples before marketing, and lose from fifteen to +forty per cent. of them. I do not irrigate. Prices have been: Jonathan, +$3 to $5 per barrel; Ben Davis, $2.25 to $3 per barrel. I employ men +mostly, at from $1 to $1.25 per day. + + * * * * * + +STEPHEN STOUT, Axtell, Marshall county: I have lived in the state +nineteen years; have an apple orchard of 800 trees twelve to fifteen +years old. For market I prefer Winesap, Ben Davis, Jonathan, Maiden's +Blush, Cooper's Early White, Duchess of Oldenburg, and Huntsman's +Favorite; and for family orchard, the first five varieties mentioned. +Have tried and discarded Willow Twig and White Winter Pearmain, because +the trees are not healthy. I prefer hilltop, with a black loam, and a +clay subsoil having a reddish color, and a northeast slope. I prefer +two-year-old, low-head, heavy, stocky trees, set in big holes, leaning +the tree a little to the southwest; fill the hole half full, and then +pour in a pail of water and fill up with earth. I have always plowed and +cultivated my orchard, but I will have to quit soon, as the trees are +getting too large. I use a stirring plow, spring-tooth cultivator, and +a harrow. Plant corn in a young orchard, and leave the stalks standing +all winter; cease cropping after ten or twelve years; grow great big +weeds in a bearing orchard, and plow them under in July. Windbreaks are +essential on the south and west sides of the orchard; would make by +planting Osage orange seed very thick, and tend well for three years. +For rabbits I paint the trees with a mixture of sulphur, soap and lard +the first fall after planting, then every alternate year for three or +four times; it will also keep off insects, mice, and bark-louse, and the +trees will be slick and smooth, with no place for insects to harbor. I +prune very little; keep out watersprouts, and let the sun into the top. +I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. + +My trees are in mixed plantings, but cannot see any benefit from it. I +fertilize my orchard by plowing under the green weeds. I think a +vegetable mold is what the trees require; think it beneficial, and would +advise it on all soils. I pasture my orchard in the spring with sows and +pigs; think it advisable, and that it pays. Codling-moth troubles my +apples. I spray right after the blossom falls, and a few days later, +with London purple, for the codling-moth, and we are getting away with +him. For borers and other insects I allow the birds in the orchard, and +do not allow the boys to go in with guns, or disturb them at all. I pick +my apples by hand from a step-ladder, and pile them under the tree. I +sort in two classes from a long, wide, sloping board with sides. I pack +in barrels from the piles in the orchard. Wagons come from the west and +buy the apples from the orchard at wholesale; sell the second grade to +apple peddlers; make cider for vinegar of the culls. My best market is +at home; never have tried distant markets. Do not dry any. I store +apples for our own use, and have apples the year round. The Little +Romanite keeps best. I do not irrigate. Apples wholesale at twenty-five +cents per bushel in the orchard. I employ men at $1.25 per day. + +I had twenty-four very fine Siberian crabs--Hyslop, Transparent, and +Whitney. They were affected with blight. Nearly all of the Siberian +trees were dead from the effects of it, and one day, while in the +orchard watching the movements of the birds and boys, I saw a striped +woodpecker fly to one of the trees, and he found what he supposed to be +a grub, but when he got through the bark he was very much disappointed, +wiped his bill, and flew to another tree, where he continued to wipe and +clean his bill; so I went to the tree mentioned, and found the bark very +loose and sour where he had punctured it. I compared the smell and taste +with the blighted twigs and found them the same. I cut the bark that was +loose from the tree, and found the rapid growth of the bark and the flow +of the sap had bursted the bark from the wood, and this sap had soured +and been taken up by the other sap and poisoned the ends of the new +growth; hence, it blighted. It was sap poison, like blood poison. I then +used the knife freely, splitting the body and limbs. I saved twenty out +of twenty-four of the trees. I then went over the orchard and cured +all the trees in one season; never been bothered since. The woodpecker +taught me a lesson, and I relate it to show the value of birds in the +orchard. + + * * * * * + +A. C. MOORE, Wanamaker, Shawnee county: I have lived in Kansas +thirty-three years; have an apple orchard of 400 trees, from twelve to +seventeen years old. For market I prefer Winesap, Jonathan, Missouri +Pippin, and Ben Davis; and for a family orchard Red Astrachan, Early +Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Smokehouse, and Winesap. Have tried and +discarded Tulpehocken; it rots on the tree and will not keep. I prefer +bottom land, with sandy loam and clay subsoil, and a north slope. I +prefer two-year-old trees, with full top and roots, set fifteen inches +deep, in furrows checked with the plow; plant where furrows cross. I +plant my orchard to corn eight years, using a plow, harrow, and +cultivator; cease cropping at the end of this time and seed to clover. +Windbreaks are essential on the south; would make them of Osage orange +fifteen rods distant, to protect the orchard from the hard and hot south +winds. For rabbits I wrap the young trees with paper. I prune my trees +after they are eight years old, with the saw, to give light and thin the +top. I think it beneficial. I do not thin my apples; enough fall off. I +fertilize my orchard by mowing the clover, and think it beneficial to +young trees, and would advise the use of clover fertilization on all +soils. I do not pasture my orchard; is not advisable. My trees are +troubled with borers, and my apples with some insect that stings them +and causes them to fall off. I do not spray. I pick my apples by hand +with care. Sort into two classes, pack in barrels, in layers, by hand, +mark with variety, and haul to shipping place or market in lumber wagon. +I wholesale my best apples; make vinegar of the second and third grades +and culls. Topeka is my best market; never tried distant markets. I do +not dry any. I am successful in storing apples in barrels in a cellar; I +also bury some. I find Romanite keeps best. I have to repack stored +apples before marketing, losing about one-eighth of them. I do not +irrigate. Price has been fifty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +THOMAS BUCKMAN, Topeka, Shawnee county: I have lived in the state +twenty-nine years. Have an apple orchard of 1300 trees from six to +twenty-seven years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis and Jonathan; and +for family orchard Rare Ripe, Maiden's Blush, and Winesap. I prefer +black soil with a porous subsoil, and a northeast slope. I prefer +two-year-old, small-size trees, with good roots, set in holes dug with +spade in well-cultivated ground. I cultivate my orchard six years with a +five-tooth cultivator; plant corn in a young orchard, and cease cropping +when six years old, and sow clover in the bearing orchard. Windbreaks +are essential; would make them of Osage orange, by setting the plants +twelve inches apart. For the rabbits I use traps and wrap the young +trees with corn-stalks. I dig the borers out with a knife. I prune to +remove crossed limbs and to keep the tree well balanced; I think it +pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. I do not fertilize my +orchard, but think it would be beneficial on all soils. I pasture my +orchard with hogs, but do not think it advisable; it does not pay. My +trees are troubled with roundhead borers, and my apples with +codling-moth and tree-cricket. I spray, after the blossom falls, with +London purple. Pick apples into a sack over the shoulder from a slide +ladder; sort under the tree, and put the best in crates made to hold one +bushel level full; we let them remain in the shade of the tree until +danger of freezing; then sort and store in the cellar, one box on top of +another. I sell apples in the orchard, wholesale and retail to customers +in Topeka; make cider of the second and third grades, and give the culls +to hogs. Topeka is my best market. Have tried distant markets, but they +do not always pay. I do not dry any. I am successful in storing apples +in bushel crates. I find Rawle's Janet and Winesap keep best. I have to +repack stored apples before marketing, losing about one-fifth of them. I +do not irrigate. Prices have been from thirty cents to one dollar per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +M. SANDERS, Broughton, Clay county: I have lived in Kansas thirty-eight +years. Have an apple orchard of 400 trees, three to ten inches in +diameter. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, Grimes's Golden +Pippin, and Red Astrachan; and for family orchard Ben Davis, Winesap, +and Missouri Pippin. I prefer bottom land having a sandy subsoil, and a +southeast slope. I prefer two-year-old, low-headed trees. In the spring +I open deep furrows both ways with a plow, and plant the trees at the +cross, fill the hole with good soil. I cultivate my orchard for six or +eight years, using a common plow till four years old, then use a shovel +plow, and plant early corn, potatoes, etc., in the young orchard; cease +cropping after six or eight years; plant nothing in a bearing orchard, +but keep up shallow cultivating with a disc or plow. Windbreaks are +essential; I would make them of three rows of box-elder or Osage orange. +I prune with a small saw or knife, to thin the top. I fertilize my +orchard with yard litter and ashes, scattering it all over the ground; +would advise it on all soils. I have pastured my orchard with hogs, but +have quit it. I now pasture with cows; I tie their heads down, but do +not think it advisable; it does not pay. My trees are troubled with +tent-caterpillar, bud moth, and twig-borers, and my apples with +codling-moth. I do not spray. I pick my apples by hand in a basket, and +sort into two classes. Sell my apples to storekeepers and Indians; make +cider and vinegar, and give away the second and third grades; feed the +culls to the hogs and cattle. My best market is at home; never tried +distant markets. Don't dry any. I have stored apples in boxes and +barrels, and find Ben Davis and Winesap keep best. I have to repack +stored apples before marketing, losing one-third to one-half of them. Do +not irrigate. Prices have been from twenty cents to one dollar per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +JOHN REED, Oak Hill, Clay county: I have resided in the state twenty +years; have an apple orchard of 100 trees six years old. For market I +prefer Ben Davis and Winesap; and for family orchard add Jonathan and a +few early varieties. I prefer low land with a porous subsoil, and a +northeast slope. I prefer two-year-old trees with branches one foot from +the ground. When setting I dig big holes and loosen up the subsoil about +a foot. I find this gives the best satisfaction. I have always +cultivated my orchard, and intend to do so three or four years longer; I +plow twice a year--in spring, and the middle of June; I keep the ground +well stirred. I planted corn the first three years, listed it in, but +would not recommend it, as the trees will do better if the land is +plowed. Windbreaks are essential on the south and west sides of the +orchard; would make them of two rows of cottonwood trees planted zigzag +with one another. For rabbits I wrap with corn-stalks. I dig borers out +and wash the trees with lye water twice a year for the first three +years; it keeps the tree nice and clean and the borers out. I prune my +trees, by cutting out the limbs that cross, and to keep the trees from +leaning to the north, and it pays. I fertilize my orchard with decayed +corn-cobs. I think it beneficial, and would advise it on all soils, as I +think too much straw mulching is an injury to the trees when they get +old. I do not pasture my orchard; it does not pay. My trees were +troubled with canker-worms last spring. I do not spray. My best market +is in the neighborhood. Prices last fall were fifty to sixty cents per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +GEO. R. BARNES, Chapman, Dickinson county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years; have an apple orchard of six acres old enough to be +at their best. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, +and Winesap, and for family use Early Harvest, Red June, Maiden's Blush, +and Missouri Pippin. I prefer a low bottom with a black loam, and a +north slope. I prefer two-year-old, well-balanced trees, set in holes +large enough to receive them, twenty-four by twenty-four feet. I +cultivate my young orchard to corn and potatoes, using a disc harrow, +and cease cropping when they begin to bear. I plant nothing in a bearing +orchard. Windbreaks would be beneficial on the south to protect the +orchard from the hot south winds. I would make it of walnut trees, +because they sap the ground the least. To protect them from the borers, +I leave the branches low down, and when we see any sawdust I dig him out +with a knife. I prune very little with knife and saw to balance the +trees. I do not thin the fruit on the trees. Some say if you expect to +get a load of apples from a tree you must give it a load of manure every +time it bears, and I think this is right, but don't put it too close to +the tree. I pasture my orchard with nothing but poultry; it is not +advisable; it makes the ground too hard. Codling-moth troubles my apples +very much. I do not spray. I sell apples in the orchard; peddle the best +ones; make cider and vinegar of the culls. Don't dry any for +market--just enough for family use. Prices have been from forty to +seventy-five cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +A. M. ENGLE, Moonlight, Dickinson county: I have lived in Kansas +nineteen years. Have an orchard of 600 apple trees ten to eighteen years +old. For commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis, Rawle's Janet, Missouri +Pippin, and Winesap. I prefer bottom or low land with a dark loam, and a +north or northeast aspect. I prefer stout, low-headed, two-year-old +trees, planted sixteen or eighteen feet east and west and thirty or +thirty-two feet north and south. I think an orchard ought to have as +much cultivation as a corn-field. I grow early corn in my young orchard, +using an Acme and cutaway harrow, and cultivate as for corn. I cease +cropping when fairly bearing. Plant nothing in a bearing orchard unless +for fertilizing, but keep cultivating. Windbreaks are essential; would +make them of evergreen, box-elder, Osage orange, maples, cottonwood, +etc. For rabbits I rub the trees with axle grease, or tar and fish oil, +or old lard, mixed; apply with a cloth. For borers I wash with lye or +strong soap-suds. I prune my trees severely when planting, and watch +them for several years, and cut out all branches that rub or crowd, and +cut out buds so that the tree will not have too many limbs for +foundation; I think it pays. I thin the fruit while on the trees; begin +early when the trees are full, and continue all through the season, +whenever I see imperfect fruit; think it pays big. My trees are mixed +plantings. I fertilize my orchard with well-rotted stable litter and +wood ashes; I would especially advise the use of wood ashes. I pasture +my orchard very little; would put hogs in if the limbs were not too low +and full of apples; I think it would pay. My trees are troubled with +flathead borer and canker-worm, and my apples with codling-moth. I +intend spraying this year with Paris green and London purple for the +worms, and Bordeaux mixture for blight and fungous diseases, as soon as +the blossoms fall. + +In picking I use foot ladders and one-half-bushel baskets, unless the +variety is very hard; then I use sacks. Sort into three classes. Pack in +barrels shaken and pressed down, then headed, and marked with name of +variety, and haul to shipping point on wagon. Sell some apples in the +orchard; let the grocer have the best to sell on commission; sell second +and third grades the best way I can; make cider of culls. My best market +is at Abilene; never tried distant markets. Dry only for home use. Am +successful in storing apples in barrels and tight boxes, in a cave; find +Winesap and Rawle's Janet keep well till June. Put my apples in the cave +when the weather is cold, and keep it open cold nights, but am careful +to not let it freeze. Think it best to repack stored apples when kept +late. If they are well managed you will not lose five per cent., +probably not two per cent. Do not irrigate, but would if I had water +facilities. Prices last fall were from forty to fifty cents per bushel +in the orchard, but the apples I kept over netted me $1.25 to $1.35 per +bushel. I employ men and women; think women best and cheapest for +sorting. Pay fifty, sixty and seventy-five cents per day. + +I do not consider myself a successful horticulturist, but believe, if I +had known as much about the nature or necessity of the orchard when we +came to Kansas nineteen years ago as I do now, I could have made a +success of it, even here in central Kansas. I would especially say that +I do not believe there can be success with an orchard exposed on upland. +There might possibly be some success as a family orchard, with a good +windbreak planted around it, especially on the south side, but I would +not take ten, twenty or thirty acres of exposed upland, with apple trees +enough to plant it, as a gift, if I must plant and tend it, for the +produce of it for ten or more years. I do not know of a single such +orchard that is worth having. I would advise selecting low ground, +sloping north and east, with an elevation or good timber protection on +south and west; land inclining to bottom or good "draw." My belief is +that, with a good selection of varieties, and the proper kind of land +and location, apple-raising could be made quite profitable here. Keeping +the apples in cellars is a mistake; a good cave kept as cold as possible +without freezing is far better. I think apples should be placed on the +north side of some shed or building before being put in the cave, and +kept cool, and put into cave before freezing. Last fall I sold my choice +apples at the orchard at from forty to fifty cents per bushel. I kept +some in barrels in the cave. They were in good demand later. About the +holidays I got $1.25, and since then $1.35. I had a contract with a +grocer to sell them for fifteen per cent., and they netted me as above. +I have some in very fine condition in my cave yet [April 27]. I still +open the cave on cold nights. + + * * * * * + +THOMAS E. TAYLOR, Pearl, Dickinson county: I have lived in the state +seventeen years. Have an apple orchard of seventy trees, fifty of which +are twelve years old, and the other twenty are eighteen years old. I +prefer Maiden's Blush, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap. Have tried and +discarded Lowell, Jonathan, Grimes's Golden Pippin, and Willow Twig, on +account of blight. I prefer bottom land having a sandy soil and a clay +subsoil, with a north slope. I prefer two-year-old healthy trees, set in +ground which has been plowed very deep. I water the tree well when I +plant it. I have cultivated as long as it was possible to get between +the trees. I generally use a common plow and disc harrow during the +summer, where I have no crop in. I grow corn, Kafir-corn and potatoes in +a young orchard. Cease cropping my orchard when twelve years old. I mow +the weeds with a machine. I think windbreaks a benefit; would make them +of box-elder, ash, or red cedar. I use a pruning-knife on my trees every +year, leaving the branches quite thick on the south side. I think it +pays. Never have thinned the fruit on the trees. I fertilize my orchard +every two or three years with stable litter. I think it beneficial. I do +not pasture my orchard; it is not advisable, does not pay. Do not spray. +Prices at picking time are forty to fifty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +H. DUBOIS, Burlingame, Osage county: I have lived in Kansas forty-one +years. Have an orchard of fifty apple trees from ten to twenty years +old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin, and +would add for family orchard Early Harvest, Duchess of Oldenburg, and +Maiden's Blush. I prefer a rich bottom having a red subsoil, and a +northeast slope. I prefer thrifty, two-year-old, medium-height trees, +set thirty feet each way. I cultivate my orchard as long as it lives +with a shovel plow and cultivator, and keep the ground stirred. Plant +potatoes in a young orchard, and cease cropping when the trees begin to +bear; then sow oats and let the pigs eat it off while it is green. +Windbreaks are not essential here, but some have forest-trees planted on +the north side of their orchards. I prune my trees in the spring to give +shape; cannot say whether it is beneficial or not. I fertilize my +orchard with barn-yard litter. I pasture my orchard with pigs until the +ripe fruit begins to fall; I think it advisable and that it pays, as the +pigs eat all the wormy and worthless fruit that falls. My trees are +troubled with tent-caterpillar, root aphis, round- and flat-headed +borers, and woolly aphis, and my apples with codling-moth. + + * * * * * + +A. J. KLEINHANS, Grantville, Jefferson county: I have lived in the state +forty-one years. Have an apple orchard of 300 trees, twenty to +twenty-five years old. For market I prefer Winesap and Ben Davis; and +for family orchard Summer Astrachan, Bellflower, and White Winter +Pearmain. Have tried and discarded Missouri Pippin, Russet, Baldwin, Red +Astrachan, Little Romanite, and Pound Pippin. My orchard is situated in +the Kaw valley. I plant my orchard to corn, until the trees get too +large; then cease cropping and seed to clover and timothy. I prune +lightly, to keep the limbs off the ground and let in the sun and light; +I think it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. I pasture +my orchard late in the fall with young dehorned cattle; I think it +advisable and that it pays. My trees are troubled with canker-worms; and +my apples with codling-moths. I do not spray. I sell apples in the +orchard at wholesale. + + * * * * * + +J. W. ATKINSON, Perry, Jefferson county: I have resided in Kansas +seventeen years; have an apple orchard of 2100 trees from two to +eighteen years old. For market I prefer Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and +Jonathan. I have tried and discarded Ben Davis; the tree is not hardy. I +prefer a porous, red-clay subsoil, and a northeast or east aspect. I +cultivate my orchard to corn six years from setting, and cease cropping +after twelve years. I seed the bearing orchard to clover. Windbreaks are +essential on the south and west sides of the orchard; when possible, +natural forest is best. I prune my trees sparingly to improve the grade +of fruit; I think it pays when properly done. I do not thin the fruit on +the trees. Can see no difference whether trees are in block [of one +kind] or mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard when it needs it with +barn-yard litter and wood ashes; would not advise it on all soils. I do +not pasture my orchard. My trees are troubled with root aphis, and my +apples with codling-moth and curculio. I spray twice after the blossom +falls, with Paris green. I can get rid of borers only by persistent +effort. I sort my apples into four classes: No. 1, No. 2, drying, and +stock and cider. Pack in twelve-peck barrels, and market in apple racks. +I sometimes wholesale my apples in the orchard. Never tried distant +markets. I do not dry any. + +Am successful in storing in barrels in a fruit house which is built near +the crest of a hill with a fall of 14 in 100 feet. Excavated +twenty-three by fifty-three feet; depth at extreme back end, fourteen +feet; at front seven feet. Tile ditch fourteen inches deeper than the +excavation next to bank, filled with broken rock. Stone wall ten feet +high; fine broken rock between wall and bank from ditch to top of wall +around the entire building. The front end of the building stands three +feet out of the ground, allowing two windows in the front with +refrigerator shutters, also a refrigerator door. Heavy timbers, +supported by posts covered with bridge lumber, constitute the framework, +upon which is seven feet of earth. Through the roof are five sewer-pipe +ventilators covered by thimble tops. In the front end are four small +ventilators. In the extreme back end is placed an elevator building +forming an opening six feet square; this extends eight feet above the +top of the earth covering. There are three windows and one door in the +elevator building. By means of small ventilators the house can be +ventilated very gradually, but by the elevator opening in the back end +of the building, and the windows and door in the front end, the air can +all be swept out by natural draft and replaced by fresh air. Five +minutes is sufficient to thoroughly ventilate. During all this extreme +wet weather the floor of the building has been dust dry. + + * * * * * + +Dr. CHAS. WILLIAMSON, Washington, Washington county: I have lived in +Kansas forty years. My first planted orchard is thirty-eight years old +and the second thirty years. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, +Missouri Pippin, and Rawle's Janet; and for family use Ben Davis, +Winesap, Jonathan, Rome Beauty, Rambo, Early June, and Romanite. I have +tried and discarded Cooper's Early White, because it is a short-lived +tree and a shy bearer. I prefer bottom land with a black loam and a clay +subsoil, with a north and east slope. I plant trees thirty feet apart. I +would advise cultivation for three years; seed bearing orchard to white +clover. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of mulberries and +cedar; plant seed for mulberries and set small cedars. For rabbits I use +traps and dogs. I prune, but not very much; I cut out watersprouts and +dead limbs, and thin out the top so as to let sun in. I never have +thinned the fruit on the trees, but think it would pay. I keep bees to +help pollinize the blossoms. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; +trees and plant life, as well as stock, need food. I do not pasture my +orchard; it is not advisable. I have sprayed with London purple. I +protect my trees from the sun, and the bark being full of sap the borers +will not trouble them. I hand-pick my apples and pack in barrels in the +orchard. I sell in the orchard at retail. My best market is at home. Do +not dry any. I store some apples, and find Ben Davis, Winesap and +Missouri Pippin keep best. When packing apples for storing I wrap each +apple in paper and put a paper between the layers in the boxes; then put +them in the cellar, and they keep well. I open the cellar door on warm +days. Prices have been from 35 cents to $1.10 per bushel. + +There is not a state in the union but what is profiting by the +experiences of such men as friend Wellhouse, the "Apple King," and other +horticulturists, who are leaving a legacy to future generations. My +experience in orcharding has been as an amateur ever since 1856. My +orchard has been for home use, but now, with my experience gained here +in Kansas, I am planting in the Ozark country, near Olden, exclusively +for market purposes (the same can be done in Kansas), but takes longer +to come to maturity. Taxes are low in Missouri. The orchardist should +not be assessed on his fruit-trees and pay the penalty for being +energetic and a pusher in horticulture. In Kansas, thanks to the life +work of the members of the State Horticultural Society, we have reached +a point where the culture of fruit is an assured success; and there is +more money in it than in hog or corn raising. The trouble has been, too +many worthless varieties have been planted, and now that they are +bearing are profitless; and the worst of it is they are repeating the +same mistake each year. I have saved some valuable trees from the borers +by taking a quarter-inch bit and boring a hole and putting in strychnine +or sulphur, and the tree lived on while all others died; even in the +black locust it was successful. I then plug the outside portion of the +hole. Let some one explain the reason who understands the circulation of +the sap. + + * * * * * + +ERNST FAIRCHILD, Hiawatha, Brown county: I have lived in Kansas thirty +years; have an apple orchard of fifteen acres, twelve years old. For +market I prefer Jonathan, Ben Davis, and Rawle's Janet; and for a +family orchard Snow, Winesap, and some sweet varieties. I prefer an east +slope. I cultivate my orchard to corn or oats for eight or nine years, +using a disc and harrow, and cease cropping at the end of this time and +seed down to clover. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of +forest-trees set in rows, on the north and west sides. I prune my trees +to give shape. I pick my apples in square tin pails which have false +bottoms; slide the fruit out at the bottom. I make vinegar of the cull +apples. Prices have been from sixty cents to one dollar per barrel. I +employ men and boys--men at one dollar per day and boys seventy-five +cents per day. + + * * * * * + +NEILS HANSON, Willis, Brown county: I have resided in the state +thirty-two years; have an orchard of 200 apple trees twenty years old. +For all purposes, I prefer Ben Davis, Jonathan, Willow Twig, and +Strawberry. Have tried and would discard Willow Twig and Lawver. I +prefer bottom land having a clay soil and a north or east slope. When +planting trees, I dig a hole two feet deep and four feet square. I +cultivate my orchard eight or ten years, using a plow, and spade around +the trees. I plant corn or oats in a young orchard. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of maples or willows and cultivate the same +as a crop. I prune to thin the tops, and think it beneficial. I thin the +fruit when small, if the trees are overloaded. Can see no difference +whether the trees are planted in blocks of one kind, or mixed up. I +fertilize my orchard, but not close to the trees; would not advise it on +bottom land. I pasture my orchard with calves and hogs, but it is not +advisable; it does not pay. + +I do not spray. I am experimenting with my trees; I make a hole two +inches deep, one-fourth inch in diameter, put in medicine and plug up +tight with grafting wax over it. It is claimed to kill all the insects +on the tree for four or five years to come. I can tell the results this +fall. It costs $10 to try it. [Hear! hear!] My neighbors spray their +trees when in blossom, and say it pays. I pick my apples by hand, sort +into two classes, and pack in barrels, filled full, and marked with +consignee's name and hauled to shipping place on wagon. I never sell +apples in the orchard, because they [the pickers] ruin the trees. I +wholesale my best, second and third grade apples to the one offering the +most for them. I feed the culls to hogs. Hiawatha is my best market. I +never tried distant markets; it would not pay, unless in car-load lots. +I dry apples, put them in sacks and hang in a dry place, and find a +ready market for them; it pays. Am successful in storing apples in +boxes--made of lath an inch apart--in an arched cave. I find Ben Davis +and Rawle's Janet keep best. I have to repack stored apples before +marketing, losing about one-tenth of them. I do not irrigate. Prices +have been about one dollar per barrel. I pay eighteen to twenty dollars +per month and board for help. + + * * * * * + +ISAAC M. TAYLOR, Richmond, Franklin county: I have lived in Kansas +thirty years; have about fifty apple trees eight years old, ten feet +high. For market I prefer Jonathan and Ben Davis; for a family orchard, +Romanstem, Gilpin, Rawle's Janet, Winesap, and Hubbardston's Nonesuch. +Have tried and discarded McAfee Nonesuch, Belleflower, and Missouri +Pippin. I prefer a gentle east slope at the bottom of a hill, with a +deep sandy loam or four feet of red land on lime rock. I prefer +two-year-old trees set thirty by thirty feet apart, in holes dug +eighteen inches deep, and filled one-third full of surface soil. I +cultivate my orchard as long as it lasts with a twelve-inch plow; throw +the dirt away first of June, and back in August; then harrow it. I plant +potatoes and corn in a young orchard, and cease cropping after ten +years. I plant nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; +would make them of rows of Osage orange on the north and south sides of +the orchard. I prune as little as possible. I fertilize my orchard with +cow-stable and horse-stable litter mixed; I think it beneficial, and +would advise it on all soils, unless very rich. I pasture my orchard +once in a while with hogs without rings in their noses, so they can hunt +worms. My trees are troubled with borers. I do not spray. I pick my +apples in sack from ladders. Sort into three classes, and peddle them. I +use Topping's driers and Williams's parers; they are satisfactory. After +drying I pack in fifty-pound boxes. I find a ready market in Kansas City +for them, but it does not pay. I am successful in storing apples in +small boxes and barrels in a cellar; Gilpin and Ben Davis keep best. I +have to repack stored apples before marketing, losing about five per +cent. I do not irrigate. Prices were thirty-five to fifty cents in the +fall; seventy-five cents to one dollar in the spring [1897]. + + * * * * * + +JOHN GREGG, Willis, Brown county: I have been in Kansas since '68; have +an apple orchard of 120 trees about twenty years old. For a commercial +orchard I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, Gano, and Dominie; and would add +for a family orchard Red June, Holland Pippin, and Yellow Transparent. I +have tried and discarded Willow Twig on account of blight, and Missouri +Pippin on account of blight and shy bearing. I prefer high land with a +porous clay subsoil, and a north, northeast or northwest aspect. When +planting trees I dig deep, wide holes, lean the tree to the southwest, +apply water, then fill and tramp well. I cultivate my orchard for five +years with an orchard disc; plant corn and potatoes. Seed bearing +orchard to clover. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of +honey-locust, maple, ash etc., on the south and west sides of the +orchard. For rabbits I wrap the trees with corn-stalks. I prune mostly +in June, to give the trees shape; I think it pays. I do not thin my +fruit, but think it would pay. I do not fertilize my orchard to any +extent; think clover is good left on the ground. I do not pasture my +orchard; it does not pay. My apples are troubled with codling-moth. I do +not spray. I pick my apples by hand into a basket or sack. The shippers +do the sorting. I wholesale, retail and peddle my apples; sell the best +to shippers, culls to neighbors or make cider of them. My best market is +at home; never tried distant markets. Do not dry or store any. Prices +have been from seventy-five cents to one dollar per barrel. + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM CUTTER, Junction City, Geary county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-eight years; have an apple orchard of 4000 trees. For a +commercial orchard I prefer the list recommended by the State +Horticultural Society. I prefer a rich bottom with a north aspect. I +prefer two-year-old trees four or five feet tall, branched low. I +cultivate my orchard as long as it lives with a disc harrow or plow. The +first five years I plant a crop that requires cultivation, and plant +nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are very beneficial; would make +them of two rows of Russian mulberries set ten feet apart in a row. I +prune very little when young to balance the tree; I think it pays. I do +not thin my fruit while on the trees, but think it would pay if I had +time. I fertilize my old orchard with stable litter, and think it +advisable on all soils. If you do not do this you must prune. I do not +pasture my orchards. My trees are troubled with canker worm, root aphis, +flathead borer, roundhead borer, woolly aphis, and leaf-roller, and my +apples with codling-moth, curculio, and gouger. I spray for canker-worm +and codling-moth--the oftener the better. I think I have reduced the +codling-moth. I dig the borers out, and kill the rabbits. I carefully +pick my apples by hand from a step-ladder, into half-bushel baskets, +and sort into three classes--first, second, and culls. Pack in barrels +rounded up and marked on the head; then send to market by rail. I sell +some apples in the orchard, usually at wholesale. My best markets are +south--Texas. I do not dry any. I am successful in storing in boxes, +barrels and bulk for home market; I find Fink keeps best. Never tried +artificial cold storage. I have to repack stored apples before +marketing, losing about one-fourth of them. I do not irrigate. Prices +have been from fifty cents to one dollar per bushel. I pay my help one +dollar per day and board. + + * * * * * + +A. H. GRIESA, Lawrence, Douglas county: I have lived in the state +thirty-one years. Have an apple orchard of 1000 trees, from six to +eighteen years old. For a commercial orchard I prefer Missouri Pippin, +Ben Davis, and Winesap; and for a family orchard Yellow Transparent, +Early Melon, Jonathan, and Gano. I have tried and discarded Gilpin, +Lawver, and McAfee; they were not productive or good. I prefer a sandy +river bottom. I prefer one-year-old trees, set as they grew in the +nursery. I cultivate my orchard to small fruits, using a disc or +cultivator; cease cropping when the trees spread too much. The more +cultivation the better. Windbreaks are not essential. I trap the +rabbits; and dig the borers out in May and September. I prune my trees a +little each year, to let in sunshine; I think it pays and is beneficial. +I thin the fruit while on the trees a very little; but it would pay to +while the fruit is small. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize +my orchard with barn-yard litter and ashes; and would advise their use +on all soils. I do not pasture my orchard; but think it would pay, with +calves and young pigs. My trees are troubled with borers and aphis, and +my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray. I pick by hand, and sort +into three classes; pack in three-bushel barrels, facing the bottoms, +and ship to market by freight or express. I sell apples in the orchard; +sell the second and third grades to evaporators. I have tried distant +markets, and found it paid. I do not dry any. I am fairly successful in +storing apples in boxes and barrels, in a barn cellar, for market and +family use, and find the Fink and Cullins keep best. Never tried +artificial cold storage. I have to repack stored apples before +marketing; the per cent. lost depends on the variety. I do not irrigate. +Prices have been from seventy-five cents to two dollars per barrel. I +pay my help one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM BOND, Rossville, Shawnee county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-one years; have an apple orchard of about 300 trees, from five to +twenty-five years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, +and Winesap; and for a family orchard would add Chenango Strawberry and +Maiden's Blush. I have tried and discarded Rawle's Janet on account of +rot, worms, and shy bearing, and Smith's Cider on account of blight. I +prefer bottom land having a deep, porous subsoil and an east or south +slope. I prefer two-year old trees, set in rows thirty feet apart each +way. I cultivate my orchard with corn or potatoes for six or eight +years, using a common cultivator, and cease cropping at the end of this +time; plant the bearing orchard to clover. Windbreaks would be +beneficial; would make them of forest-trees or Osage orange, by planting +in three close rows on the south and west sides of the orchard. For +rabbits I tie split corn-stalks around the trees. I prune very little; +just enough to keep the head open and the watersprouts off. I do not +thin the fruit while on the trees. My trees are planted with one variety +in a row. I do not fertilize my orchard. I do not pasture my orchard; it +is not advisable. My trees are troubled with canker-worms and flathead +borers, and my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray. I pick my +apples by hand. I sell apples in the orchard; also wholesale, retail and +peddle some. The home market is best; never tried distant markets. I do +not dry or store any. I do not irrigate. Apples were fifty cents per +bushel in the fall of 1897. I paid my help one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +REUBEN WALTON, Aurora, Cloud county: I have lived in Kansas twenty +years. Have an apple orchard of 200 trees from six to eighteen years +old. For a commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis, Late Emperor, and +Maiden's Blush; and for a family orchard Winesap, Cooper's Early White, +Late Emperor, Maiden's Blush, and Rhode Island Greening. I prefer a +north slope with a rich black loam and limestone subsoil. I prefer +two-year-old, well-rooted trees, set twenty feet apart. I cultivate my +orchard to potatoes for ten years, using a double shovel plow, and cease +cropping at the end of this time, planting the bearing orchard to grass. +Windbreaks are essential; would make them of evergreens. I dig borers +out. I prune to give the trees more air and better shape; I think it +pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees; the hail and dry +weather generally do that for me. My trees are in mixed plantings. I +have one apricot tree which never bore until a swarm of bees came and +lit on it, and it has borne every year since then [??]. I do not +fertilize my orchard; our soil does not need it. I pasture my orchard +all the time, with hogs and pigs. It is not advisable, as they injure +the trees, but they pick up the wormy fruit. My trees are troubled with +canker-worms, and my apples with codling-moth. I spray with London +purple and Paris green three times, when we have the time and water to +spare. Think I have reduced the codling-moth. I pick my fruit by hand +and sell some apples to the neighbors in the orchard. I feed culls to +pigs. I never tried distant markets. I have apples dried on shares for +family use. It does not pay to dry for market. I am partially successful +in storing apples in barrels in a cellar under the house. I find Rhode +Island Greening, Ben Davis, Duchess of Oldenburg and Emperor keep best. +I have to repack stored apples before marketing, losing one-fourth of +them. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from twenty to thirty cents +per bushel. + + * * * * * + +W. D. CELLAR, Edwardsville, Wyandotte county: Been in Kansas twelve +years; have 2000 apple trees from two to eight years of age, comprising +Ben Davis, Jonathan, Gano and Missouri Pippin for commercial purposes, +and Maiden's Blush, Early Harvest, Bailey Sweet, Huntsman's Favorite, +Grimes' Golden Pippin and Winesap for family orchard. I have discarded +the McAfee and Lawver as unproductive. I prefer loose soil, and hill +land with an east and north slope. Plant thrifty two-year-old trees, in +rows 25x30 feet. I cultivate to corn, berries, etc., until seven or +eight years old, with the Planet jr. horse hoe, and then sow to clover. +Windbreaks are not needed in our locality. I prune conservatively, +cutting out broken or interlacing branches, and suckers at the base; I +believe it pays. Have never thinned on the tree, and fertilize with +barn-yard litter and clover. I do not pasture my apple orchard. Am +troubled some with insects, but have not sprayed. I dig out borers, +which I think may be largely prevented by the use of wooden tree +wrappers. I pick in the ordinary way and divide into two classes: +select, sound, smooth apples above two inches in diameter; number two, +sound apples too small for select. I do this on a sorting table, and +pack in twelve-peck barrels, pressed down, and marked with a stencil. I +sell at wholesale, sometimes in the orchard; culls I sell in the orchard +or the Kansas City market. Our best market is Kansas City. I have +shipped to distant markets and made it pay. Have never dried any. Have +stored for winter in barrels in cold store; they have not kept +satisfactorily, I cannot say why; Jonathan and Missouri Pippin kept best +this past winter. I had to repack this spring and lost twenty per cent. +Prices have ranged from 10 cents to $1.50 per bushel. For help I use +men, and pay one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +C. D. GAISER, Lansing, Leavenworth county: Have lived in Kansas forty +years. Have 5000 trees eight years old, of Gano, Ben Davis, Jonathan, +and Huntsman's Favorite; I grow no others. My location is hilltop, with +good, rich soil, and a clay subsoil; slope makes no difference. I plant +two- and three-year-old trees, 15x30 feet, and cultivate to corn for +seven or eight years, and then sow to clover and timothy. I never prune, +thin, or fertilize; and allow no stock in the orchard. I do not spray, +but dig the flat-headed borer out with a knife. I use ladders, and +gather in baskets and pour into a wagon, and sort in unloading; I make +only two classes, culls and good apples. I ship my best apples to +different points in barrels, and it pays; my culls I make into cider. +Have never tried drying apples. I store some for winter in bulk, and +keep them successfully. I use men and boys for help. I sell for $1.25 to +$1.50 per barrel. + + * * * * * + +W. H. ROBINSON, Dunlap, Morris county: Has lived in Kansas thirty years; +has 1000 apple trees, planted from two to nineteen years. Prefers Ben +Davis, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Grimes's Golden Pippin and Jonathan for +commercial purposes, and Early Harvest, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Duchess +of Oldenburg and Cooper's Early White for family use. Has turned down +Rawle's Janet, as they rot on the trees. All on best bottom land, clay +subsoil. Plants two-year-old trees thirty-five feet apart each way, with +nothing [?] between. Plants to corn, and cultivates well up to twelve +years. Is protected on the southwest by a belt of timber. Keeps rabbits +off by wrapping with corn-stalks. Prunes to make the tree healthier and +apples finer; says it pays. Plants varieties in alternate rows, but does +not say why. Uses all the stable litter he can get. Pastures with cows +after gathering; says they eat the culls and wormy fruit, and it pays. +He advises others to try it. Sprays with London purple before blooming, +after blooming, and ten days later for tent-caterpillar and +codling-moth, and believes he has reduced both of them. Has no +borers--thinks "a stitch in time saves nine." Picks and sorts into two +classes, first and second. Always sells in the orchard to western apple +haulers. Lets the cows have all culls he does not use for cider. Price +in orchard for picked apples, forty to fifty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +J. H. TAYLOR, Rhinehart, Dickinson county: Lived in Kansas twenty-two +years. Have 700 apple trees, out from one to nineteen years. Prefer, for +commercial purposes, Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Rawle's +Janet; and for family orchard add Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, and +Rambo. Have discarded all the specially recommended eastern [?] +varieties as shy bearers, and too warm for Grimes's Golden Pippin. +Prefers to plant on good black loam, in ravines facing north. Plants +two-year-old thrifty trees, some 33x33, others 33x16-1/2 feet. Have +tried to grow root grafts, with poor success. Cultivate all the time +with disc and plow; grow corn for five or six years, afterward nothing. +Does not need windbreak, but would use if required--about fifteen rows +of ash and catalpa, planted four by four feet. Wraps trees from rabbits. +Mice ate bark off and completely girdled roots six inches in diameter +under the ground last winter (1897-'98). Prunes some to keep the top +balanced and low, to prevent sun-scald and effects of wind. Uses fresh +stable litter as a mulch, and believes it pays. Does not pasture at any +time. Has few insects, and does not spray much, says rains wash it off +too readily. Picks in baskets, and finds the family the best market; +stores for winter in boxes and barrels, and is successful with Rawle's +Janet, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin. Prices have run from fifty cents to +one dollar per bushel. Uses farm help at fifteen to eighteen dollars and +board per month. + + * * * * * + +JAMES LAWRY, Hollis, Cloud county: I have lived in the state sixteen +years; have an apple orchard of 140 trees from six to fourteen years +old. For all uses I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin. I +have discarded the Willow Twig because they die out. I prefer a clay +soil. I prefer three-year-old trees set in big holes. I cultivate my +orchard about five years with a one-horse shovel plow. I plant potatoes +or sweet corn in a bearing orchard, and cease cropping when the trees +cover the ground, and sow red clover in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks +are essential; would make them of mulberries. I prune with a saw, to +make them more productive; I think it pays. I never thin my fruit while +on the trees. Can see no difference whether trees are in block of one +kind or mixed plantings. I do not fertilize my orchard, or spray. I pick +my apples by hand from a ladder. I do not sell in the orchard. I do not +pasture my orchard. Don't dry any. + + * * * * * + +LEVI KIMMAL, Concordia, Cloud county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-five +years; have an apple orchard of 120 trees eighteen years old. For market +I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap; and for a family +orchard Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Limber Twig, and Maiden's Blush. I +have tried and discarded Golden Russet on account of shy bearing. I +prefer a sandy loam with a clay subsoil, having a north or northwest +aspect. I prefer two-year-old trees for planting. I plant my orchard up +to bearing with potatoes and corn; then seed down to red clover. +Windbreaks are essential; would make them of several rows of Osage +orange on the south side of the orchard. I prune my trees; thin out the +top to let the sun in for coloring. My trees are more fruitful when +planted in blocks. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; I think it +beneficial because it mulches, enriches, and holds the moisture, and +would advise its use on all soils; no land is so good but what stable +litter will make it better. I do not pasture my orchard; I do not think +it advisable; but I mow all the weeds or whatever grows in the orchard +and leave it on the ground for a mulching. My trees are troubled with +twig-borers and leaf-rollers, and my apples with codling-moth. I have +sprayed my trees when in blossom with Paris green; did not succeed last +year. I dig borers out and pick the bad fruit (if there is any) off. I +hand-pick my apples for winter use into baskets from step-ladders. I +sell apples in the orchard; would rather sell that way than to hold +them. I feed the culls to pigs. My best market is at home; I never tried +a distant market. I do not dry any. I am successful in storing apples +for home use in a cellar. I do not irrigate, but use stable litter for +moisture. Winter apples brought fifty cents per bushel; dried apples +three or four cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +SENECA HEATH, Muscotah, Atchison county: I have lived in the state +thirty-one years; have an apple orchard of 2080 trees from three to +thirty-six years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, +York Imperial, Jonathan, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Stark, and on rich, +moist soil, Winesap; and for a family orchard Early Margaret, Early +June, Early Harvest, Cooper's Early White, Sweet Bough, Keswick Codlin, +Maiden's Blush, Red Astrachan, Autumn and Summer Pearmain, Rambo, +Fulton, Smith's Cider, and Newtown Pippin (if given extra care). Have +tried and discarded Tompkins County King--the borers kill it on all +soils--and Willow Twig on account of blight. I prefer upland with a +black sandy or gravelly loam and a good limestone soil, with a porous +subsoil as a necessity, and a northeast slope. I prefer thrifty +one-year-old trees, set in plowed furrows and covered with a spade; +"hill up" rather than "dig down." I cultivate my orchard to corn or any +cultivated crop for eight years, using a plow and harrow, and cease +cropping at the end of this time, and plant nothing in a bearing +orchard; it does not pay. Windbreaks are essential, especially on +upland. I would make them of red cedar, soft maple, or Osage orange, by +planting in rows and cultivating four to six years. For rabbits I use +tarred paper, and wood ashes for borers. I prune my trees with a saw and +shears to produce fruit and shape; I think it pays, but the Ben Davis +and Jonathan grow into handsomer shapes if left alone. If a tree is +growing too rapidly to set fruit, prune in June. I thin the fruit while +on the trees by picking off the wormy and defective ones. I keep this up +until nearly grown; it pays. My trees are in mixed plantings, and +believe they are more fruitful. + +I fertilize my orchard with barn-yard litter, ashes, salt, and lime, and +would advise it on all excepting rich soils, where it ought not to be +used until after the trees have fruited five to eight years. Probably +the cheapest and best fertilizer on upland is clover mowed and left to +decay where it fell. Weeds are also good if mowed when two feet high and +left on the ground. I pasture my orchard with pigs, calves, and horses, +but it does not pay. My trees are troubled with tent-caterpillars and +round-headed borers, and my apples with codling-moth. I spray with a +two-horse wagon sprayer, also a hand sprayer, when the blossom falls, +with Paris green, and think I have reduced the codling-moth. I burn +tent-caterpillars with a coal-oil lamp or torch. I pick my apples by +hand into half-bushel baskets, from ladders. I sell my apples in the +orchard. I sell, feed to the stock, and make cider of the culls. I do +not dry any, but think it would pay. I have stored apples in barrels, +and found the Winesap, Rawle's Janet, Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Stark +and Baldwin keep best. I am not always successful; will not store any +more until I build a fruit house. I do not irrigate, but intend to. +Prices have been from 75 cents to $1.75 per barrel. I employ men and +boys, and pay two cents per bushel for picking. + + * * * * * + +ED. SANDY, Linn, Washington county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-eight +years. Have an apple orchard of 100 trees, fifteen years old. I prefer a +north slope. I plant my orchard to corn, using a cultivator; and +continue cultivating bearing orchard. I prune my trees. Do not thin the +fruit while on the trees. I fertilize my orchard with barn-yard litter, +and think it beneficial; I would advise its use only on upland. I do not +pasture my orchard. My apples are troubled with codling-moth and +curculio. I have sprayed with Paris green for worms, and am not very +successful. + + * * * * * + +J. A. COURTER, Barnes, Washington county: Have lived in Kansas since +1869; have an apple orchard of 150 trees, set from nine to twenty-five +years. I prefer bottom land with a northeast slope. I cultivate my +orchard to corn all the time. Windbreaks are not essential. I fertilize +my orchard with stable litter; my trees grew fine, but for the last +three or four years they have blighted badly. I do not spray. I store +some apples for winter use in boxes in a cave. + + * * * * * + +THOMAS BROWN, Palmer, Washington county: I have resided in the state +twenty-eight years. Have an apple orchard of 500 trees from three to +twenty years old. For a commercial orchard I prefer Winesap, Missouri +Pippin, and Ben Davis, and for family orchard Cooper's Early White, +Maiden's Blush, and Jonathan. I prefer sandy land on an east slope. I +plant trees in rows sixteen by twenty-one feet. I mulch my orchard with +straw, and plow every three or four years. Windbreaks are essential; I +would make them of maple or box-elders, planted around the orchard. I +prune some, but it does not pay. I do not thin the fruit while on the +trees. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; I think it beneficial, +and would advise its use on all soils. I pasture my orchard some with +swine, but it is not advisable; it does not pay. My trees are troubled +with fall web-worms. I do not spray. I pick my apples by hand. I +sometimes sell the apples in the orchard at retail. My best market is at +home; I never tried distant markets. I do not dry any. Am successful in +storing apples in boxes and barrels in a cellar. Winesap and Missouri +Pippin keep best. I never tried cold storage. I have to repack stored +apples before marketing, losing about one-third of them. I do not +irrigate. Prices have been about fifty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +D. J. FRASER, Peabody, Marion county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-three years; have 380 apple trees ten inches in diameter, +twenty-two years planted. I prefer for commercial purposes Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, Grimes's Golden Pippin, and Maiden's Blush; and for +family use would add Early Harvest, Sweet June, and Winesap; have tried +and discarded about thirty other varieties, because they did not yield +or were subject to disease. I prefer bottom land, with north slope, made +land. I plow out deep, dead furrow; set trees and plow the earth back to +the trees. I prefer two- or three-year-old strong trees. Have tried root +grafts and seedlings with good success. I cultivate the trees the first +ten years with the plow and harrow. I grow nothing in a young orchard, +and seed the old orchard to clover. I think windbreaks are essential on +the south, and would make them of Osage orange or mulberry, planted in +double rows, a few feet apart. Wrap trees for rabbits, and for borers +keep trees thrifty. I prune some to keep the top balanced, and think it +beneficial. I have thinned fruit some, but do not think it pays. My +trees are in mixed plantings, and I keep bees. I have used fertilizer, +but could not see much benefit; would advise it only on thin soils. I +have pastured my orchard with hogs, and think it advisable; it pays. My +trees are bothered with canker-worm, root aphis, flathead borer, and +twig-borer; the codling-moth troubles my apples. I have sprayed with +Bordeaux mixture, London purple, and Paris green; could not see much +good; have reduced the codling-moth some. I pick my apples the +old-fashioned way--with a sack. Practically, the crop has been so light +that very few have been sold, and they were fall apples. Have never +dried any; have never stored any. Do not irrigate. Prices have been +unsatisfactory. + + * * * * * + +J. B. MOSHER, Lawrenceburg, Cloud county: I have lived in Kansas +seventeen years. Have an orchard of 150 trees, planted from one to +seventeen years. For family orchard would plant Early Harvest, Cooper's +Early, Duchess of Oldenburg, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Winesap, Rawle's +Janet, and Ben Davis. Medium elevation, with northern or northeastern +slope, and clay-loam soil with clay subsoil, is preferable. When +planting, I dig a hole large enough to receive the roots, and plant +healthy two-year-old trees, trained to a switch, so that I can train the +top to suit. Have tried root grafts and seedlings; both have done well. +I cultivate while the trees are young, and use only harrow and +mowing-machine after they begin to bear. I plant any hoed crop among the +trees while young, and cease when the trees begin to bear. I think +windbreaks essential, and use maple, box-elder, and Scotch pine. For +rabbits I use traps and shot-gun. I use a knife for the borers. I prune +when the tree needs it; use the saw on large trees and the knife on +small trees. I thin the fruit sometimes when it sets too thickly, as +soon as it shows, and it pays most emphatically. I cannot see any +difference in trees whether set in blocks or mixed up. I use some +barn-yard fertilizer, and think it beneficial; would advise its use as +the trees begin to bear. I pasture my orchard with pigs and poultry; +think it advisable, and think it pays. + +My trees are troubled with bud moth, flathead borer, and twig-borer; +some seasons I also have leaf-roller and leaf-crumpler. The codling-moth +troubles my apples. I spray some to destroy these insects, with indigo +and London purple, using a pump. I do not know that I have reduced the +codling-moth any. For borer I form a basin around the tree and fill with +water, repeating several times; I sometimes pick them. I use an ordinary +fruit ladder, and sack with ends tied together and swung over the +shoulder. I make but one class, viz., market all the perfect apples. I +carefully put in a fruit-house and let stay a week or so, then carefully +sort over by removing all unsound or faulty ones. I do not ship. I have +a good market at home. I never sell in the orchard; usually market in +bushel boxes. I usually feed second- or third-class fruit to hogs. My +best market is Concordia. Have never tried distant markets. I have never +dried any apples. I store some for winter use in an ordinary cellar; am +successful, and find Winesap, Rawle's Janet and Missouri Pippin keep the +best. We have to repack after storing, and lose about one-third. I do +not irrigate. Winesap, Missouri Pippin and Rawle's Janet usually sell at +one dollar per bushel; Ben Davis, at seventy-five cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +C. C. GARDINER, Bradford, Wabaunsee county: Have lived in Kansas +thirty-nine years, in this county fourteen years; have 750 apple trees +ten years planted. For commercial orchard I would plant Ben Davis, +Winesap and Missouri Pippin; for family use, add Jonathan and Maiden's +Blush. Have tried and discarded Keswick Codlin; tree is tender. I prefer +hilltop, north and west or northeast slope, black loam with a yellowish +clay subsoil. I plant thirty feet apart, using one- and two-year-old, +low-headed trees. Have tried root grafts; had good success. I cultivate +until the trees are six or seven years old with the plow and cultivator. +I grow corn in a young orchard, and clover in a bearing orchard; cease +cropping when six or seven years old. Windbreaks are beneficial on the +south and west; they should be made of quick-growing trees. I wrap the +trees with paper to protect against rabbits. I prune but little to thin +top; am doubtful if it pays. Never thin apples on trees. I fertilize the +land with well-rotted manure, but not close the trees; I would advise +its use on all soils; I think it beneficial; I sometimes pasture my +orchard with hogs; do not think it advisable; pays only in getting rid +of wormy fruit. My trees are troubled with leaf-roller, and my apples +with codling-moth. Do not spray. Gather my apples by hand, and sort into +two classes, first, second and culls. + + * * * * * + +ISAAC E. WOLF, Longford, Clay county: Have been in Kansas twenty-one +years; have 200 apple trees nineteen years old, and 100 apple trees six +years old. Prefer Ben Davis, Winesap and Missouri Pippin for market, and +Maiden's Blush, Duchess of Oldenburg and Smith Cider for family orchard. +The Red Astrachan and Early Harvest are shy bearers. My orchard is on +sandy soil with clay subsoil; the trees look healthy. I prefer +two-year-old trees, and lay the ground off in squares, making large +holes. In young orchard I plant corn for ten years, cultivating both +ways; after that I grow nothing, but cultivate with the disc as long as +I can get through it. Am cultivating my old orchard. I think windbreaks +are a necessity on the south, west, and north, and would make them of +walnut and box-elder. For rabbits I rub on strong grease. I prune with +shears such limbs as rub one another, and am sure it pays. I don't think +it pays to thin fruit on the trees. I believe in fertilizing the ground, +but not too close to the trees; it won't hurt any soil. Allow no stock +in the orchard. The twig-borer is the worst insect in my orchard. I +tried spraying on some trees, and some I did not, and my apples were all +alike. I watch for borers closely, and cut them out. I pick in a grain +sack, and make three classes. The best I keep for spring, the second +class for winter, and the culls I turn into cider. I peddle my apples +out at home. We dry some apples and have a good market at home. We store +for winter in the cellar in bulk, and find that Winesap, Rawle's Janet +and Missouri Pippin are the best keepers. + + +FRUIT DISTRICT No. 2. + +Following is the second fruit district, comprising twenty-three +counties, in the northwest quarter of state. Reports, or rather +experiences, from each of these counties will be found immediately +following. We give first the number of apple trees in this district, +compiled from statistics for 1897. Many thousands were added in the +spring of 1898. + + _Bearing._ _Not bearing._ _Total._ + Cheyenne 211 1,708 1,919 + Decatur 3,925 4,990 8,915 + Ellis 3,846 1,321 5,167 + Ellsworth 17,491 12,474 29,965 + Gove 214 1,202 1,416 + Graham 508 3,636 4,144 + Jewell 120,509 56,550 177,059 + Lincoln 19,619 18,846 38,465 + Logan 468 1,465 1,933 + Mitchell 55,806 20,624 76,430 + Morton 264 171 435 + Norton 7,220 6,803 14,023 + Osborne 21,647 15,043 36,690 + Phillips 16,765 9,486 26,251 + Rawlins 806 2,065 2,871 + Rooks 8,127 6,815 14,942 + Russell 6,788 5,045 11,833 + Sheridan 218 1,148 1,366 + Sherman 169 1,477 1,646 + Smith 41,919 22,988 64,907 + Thomas 509 470 979 + Trego 745 1,409 2,154 + Wallace 223 1,343 1,566 + ------- ------- ------- + Total in district 327,997 197,079 525,076 + Estimate in acreage 60,000 35,000 105,000 + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM BAIRD, Vesper, Lincoln county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years; have an apple orchard of 300 trees, from one to +fifteen years old; the old ones measuring twelve inches in diameter. For +commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and +Huntsman's Favorite; and for family orchard Maiden's Blush, Ben Davis, +and Missouri Pippin. Think I shall discard Red Astrachan and Red +Betigheimer on account of shy bearing. I prefer bottom, sandy soil, clay +subsoil, and a northwest slope. I prefer good, stocky, low-headed, +yearling trees set from twenty-five to thirty feet in the row; have +tried root grafts; that is the only successful way to grow trees here. I +cultivate my orchard to potatoes for the first two or three years, after +that to any kind of vines. I use a stirring plow, plowing very shallow +near the trees and deeper near the center. I grow nothing in a bearing +orchard, and cease cropping after five years. I think windbreaks are +essential, and would make them of seedling peach, Russian mulberry or +any quick-growing trees, in three or four rows on the south side of the +orchard. I trap the rabbits, and use my knife on the borers; am not +troubled with them very much. I prune trees while young to give the +proper shape to the top, and later to remove the crossed limbs and cause +them to spread out and shade the trunk and as much space as possible. I +have thinned the fruit on trees to a limited extent; it should be done +when about the size of quail eggs. Think it makes little difference +whether trees are planted in block or mixed up. + +I do not fertilize my orchard; the soil is rich enough; water is what it +needs. I pasture my orchard with hogs, and think it advisable, as they +eat all the wormy fruit and destroy many insects by rooting; I find it +pays. My trees are troubled with root aphis; my apples are bothered by +codling-moth, gouger, and blue jays. I spray with London purple and +lime, about 100 gallons of water to one pound of purple and six pounds +of lime. I think Paris green would be better. I spray for canker-worm as +soon as I see them, and am of the opinion that one application is +enough, but do not think spraying of any use for codling-moth, as the +moth itself does not eat anything but the honey from the base of the +bloom, and not enough of the poison reaches them to amount to anything. +My method of fighting them is, as soon as the moth appears in the +spring, to put old fruit cans in the trees filled with sweet water. This +attracts the moths and they drown in it. I also burn torches in the +orchard at night. Another way is to hang a lantern over a tub of water +that has a little coal-oil in it; this will kill a great many insects. + +I hand-pick my fruit into sacks slung over the shoulder; I use a +step-ladder for those I cannot reach. I sell apples in orchard; also +retail; sell best ones to best customers; I dry second and third grades; +of culls I make cider and vinegar and feed to pigs. My best market is at +home. I dry some apples; use a Victor evaporator, and one that I made; +after drying we heat in an oven, and put in double paper bags, and find +a ready market; but it does not pay. I store apples in five-bushel +boxes, in a tunnel-like cellar, dug in solid sand-rock; it is fifty feet +long, five feet wide, and six and one-half feet deep, with rooms on each +side; it is perfectly dry and the temperature even, but it is too warm +for winter; I find it is excellent for summer and fall apples. Those +that keep best are Rawle's Janet and Missouri Pippin. We have to repack +stored apples before marketing; I do not lose many. I use or sell as +soon as fit. I irrigate my orchard from a small creek fed by springs. I +have two large dams, with ditches running along the hillside, with gates +to let the water into the ditches; from the main ditch I have laterals, +also provided with gates; the surplus and seepage goes back into the +creek below the main dam; the creek below the dam has small dams in it +to hold the seepage water at the desired height--which serves for +subirrigation, the best irrigation in the world. The water should not +stand nearer than five feet of the surface for apples. I run the water +between the rows in wide, shallow ditches, any time from March to +September. It is not necessary to have a creek to irrigate an orchard. A +good, big ditch along the hillside above the orchard will catch enough +melted snow and rain to pay for its construction; this should run into a +reservoir. Prices have been from seventy-five cents to one dollar, and +dried apples from five to twelve and one-half cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +PETER NOON, Vesper, Lincoln county: I have lived in Kansas thirty years. +Have forty apple trees eleven years old, eight to ten inches in +diameter, twelve to fifteen feet high. I prefer for all purposes Winesap +and Ben Davis. I prefer bottom land with a black soil and sandy subsoil. +I plant young trees in rows twenty-five feet each way. I cultivate my +orchard for seven years with plow and harrow, raising no crop. +Windbreaks are essential; I use cottonwood trees, planted in three rows, +around my orchard. I prune with a saw to make the trees bear better and +keep them from getting top-heavy; I think it beneficial. I thin my fruit +on the trees by hand in July. I never pasture my orchard. My trees are +troubled with bud moth. I do not spray. I pick by hand. Never dry any. +Do not store any. Do not irrigate. Prices have been from seventy-five to +eighty cents per bushel, and dried apples eight cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +JACOB WEIDMAN, Lincoln, Lincoln county: Have lived in Kansas +twenty-eight years. Have an apple orchard of about 1000 trees, nineteen +years old. For commercial purposes I prefer Winesap, Ben Davis, Rawle's +Janet, Huntsman's Favorite, Jonathan, Maiden's Blush, Early Harvest, +Grimes's Golden Pippin, Duchess of Oldenburg, Autumn Strawberry, Rambo, +and Gano. For family orchard would prefer Winesap, Huntsman's Favorite, +Gilpin, Milam, Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Red June, and Limber Twig, +the last one being a very good keeper. Have tried and discarded Red +Astrachan, Lawver, Golden Russet, Yellow Bellflower, Willow Twig and +Smith's Cider on account of blight. I prefer bottom land with rich soil +and loose subsoil, with a northern slope. I prefer two-year-old stocky +trees planted in a furrow. I have tried root grafts with the best +success; the best trees in this county were grown by me. I cultivate my +orchard to corn, using a stirring plow; I cease cropping after six +years, but keep cultivating until the trees smother the weeds. +Windbreaks are essential. I have native timber on three sides, the +south, west, and north; and a hill on the east. For rabbits I wrap the +trees with corn-stalks, which also protects them from sun-scald. Am +never troubled with borers. I prune moderately to give shape to young +trees, and to let the sun and air to the fruit on old trees; many trees +are injured by heavy pruning. I never thin. + +Mixed plantings of trees are best; my Jonathan do well; all do well that +bloom at the same time. I do not fertilize. I never pasture my orchard; +would not advise it. My trees are troubled with woolly aphis and +root-louse. I have sprayed with London purple; last year I sprayed with +Paris green and my apples were free from worms; if London purple is used +without lime it burns the leaves; Paris green does not mix well, and has +to be stirred all the time. I am going to use carbonate of soda and +white arsenic this year; four parts carbonate of soda to two parts of +white arsenic, and one gallon of water; boil for fifteen minutes, then +add another gallon of water and use two quarts of this to fifty gallons +of water. I pick my apples in a sack from a ladder. I sell apples in the +orchard; have regular customers for the winter apples. I supply some +stores with early and fall apples; never peddle any. I put my +second-grade apples in piles of about thirty bushels each, and cover +lightly with dirt until cold weather comes. A little freezing will not +hurt them. In March or April I market them, and get as much for them as +I get for the first-class ones in the fall. Those that keep best are: +Ben Davis, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, Gilpin, and Milam. We dry some apples +for home use. We put them on frames in a spent hotbed under glass, to +keep flies off. I have a large cellar in which I store apples; have +never packed them in barrels. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from +35 cents to $1.50 per bushel. Have help of my own. + + * * * * * + +L. P. ASHCROFT, Shibboleth, Decatur county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-two years. Have 100 apple trees, eight to twelve years old, four +to ten inches in diameter. I prefer for commercial purposes Ben Davis, +Winesap, and Willow Twig. I prefer upland with a south slope. I plant +two-year-old, low, bushy, stout-top trees. To set, I plow deep and dig +deep holes, in the fall. I cultivate my orchard every year from May 1 to +July 1, and late in the fall. I use the harrow in the spring, disc and +harrow later on, and lister in the fall. I think windbreaks would be +beneficial on the south, and would make them of buildings and sheds of +all kinds. I am troubled with small borers in the limbs. I prune out the +inside of trees to let sun and air through. I think it beneficial, and +that it pays. I never thin apples; the wind does the thinning. My trees +are in mixed plantings, and I believe would bear every year if they did +not freeze. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter on top of heavy +snows. I think it beneficial, if not too close to the trees. I would +advise its use on all soils if applied at the right time and in the +right manner. I do not pasture my orchard; it does not pay. My trees are +troubled with small borers, and my fruit with some insects. I do not +spray. I have used coal-oil for borers, but do nothing now. We pick our +own fruit. + + * * * * * + +W. D. STREET, Oberlin, Decatur county: I have resided in the state +thirty-seven years. Have an apple orchard of fifty trees seven or eight +years old, about six inches in diameter. My orchard is situated on low, +bottom land. I prefer two-year-old trees, set in plowed land and dug +holes. I plant my orchard to garden crops, corn, and potatoes. I plow +shallow, and use a harrow and weed-cutter. I plant the same crops in a +bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; mine are natural timber along +the creek. I prune a little with knife and saw, to preserve shape; +cannot say that it has been beneficial, or that it pays. I do not thin +the fruit while on the trees; it would probably benefit. I fertilize my +orchard some with stable litter. I think it beneficial, as the land is +heavily cropped with truck. I would not advise it on all soils. I +pasture my orchard with cattle, horses, and hogs, but do not think it +advisable. I have not sprayed yet, but intend to when my orchard is +older. I pick my apples by hand. I store apples for home use. With a dam +across a creek, I raise water into a pond, and irrigate. Seepage, +percolation and capillary attraction do the rest. + + * * * * * + +JAMES L. WILLIAMS, McDonald, Rawlins county: I have resided in Kansas +nineteen years. Have an apple orchard of sixty trees, planted eight +years; planted ten acres in 1895. I prefer for family orchard Jonathan, +Rambo, Senator, Rawle's Janet, and Gano. I planted my orchard on a +hillside; the small orchard is in the bottom; they have a clay subsoil, +and slope in every direction, but would prefer a northern slope. I +prefer three-year-old trees, set in holes dug four feet deep, five feet +wide, filled in the bottom with soil hauled from the creek. [?] I +cultivate my trees with a cultivator and harrow; I think the life of the +tree depends on the cultivation, and that we will have to keep it up as +long as the tree lives. I plant potatoes and turnips in a bearing +orchard. Windbreaks would be a benefit, and should be made of Russian +mulberry or red cedar, set in four or five rows around the orchard. For +rabbits I rub axle grease on the trees. I commence pruning when I set +the trees out, using a knife and saw, to keep the tops from getting too +heavy and to give shape; I think it pays. Never have thinned the fruit +while on the trees, but would if my trees should ever be overloaded; I +think it would pay. I fertilize my orchard from the sheep corral; it +keeps the ground moist and is food for the trees. Would not advise its +use on bottom land, as the growth would be too rapid. I pasture my +orchard with hogs, but do not think it advisable; it does not pay. My +trees are troubled with grasshoppers and flathead borers. I dig borers +out in the spring, then wash the tree with strong soap-suds, which I +think eradicates all lice and insects that may be in the bark of the +tree; it gives the tree a hearty, vigorous growth. I do not irrigate, +but cultivate instead. + + * * * * * + +J. R. CALDWELL, Oberlin, Decatur county: I have lived in Kansas thirteen +years. Have an apple orchard of 110 trees, thirteen years old, six +inches in diameter. For fall or winter market I prefer Winesap, Ben +Davis, and Jonathan, and for summer, Cooper's Early White, Maiden's +Blush, Red June, Winesap, Ben Davis, and Jonathan. Have tried and +discarded Rawle's Janet; it is not a good bearer in this locality. I +prefer upland, with a deep, rich loam, and an eastern slope. I prefer +three-year-old trees, with lengthy bodies and not much top, set in holes +dug three by three, one and one-half to two feet deep; fill the bottom +with some of the same dirt. I cultivate my orchard to corn and potatoes +ten or twelve years, using a cultivator and stirring plow; cease +cropping after ten or twelve years. Windbreaks are essential; would make +them of forest-trees, by planting or transplanting them. For rabbits I +wrap the trees with corn-stalks. I prune to keep the limbs from rubbing; +for any other reason it does not pay. I do not thin the fruit while on +the trees. My trees are planted in rows. I fertilize my orchard with +barn-yard litter; think it beneficial, and that it would be good for all +soils. I do not pasture my orchard; it is not advisable, and does not +pay. My trees are troubled with flathead borer and tent-caterpillar, and +my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray. I hand-pick my apples and +sell them in our home market. I do not dry or store any. Do not +irrigate. Price has been one dollar per bushel. Dried apples have been +from five to six cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +B. F. CAMPBELL, St. Francis, Cheyenne county: I have lived in Kansas +since 1885. Have an apple orchard of 200 trees, from two to seven years +planted. I prefer bottom land, subirrigated, that is sandy, with a +northern aspect. I prefer one-year-old trees planted in rows twenty feet +apart. I cultivate my orchard to vegetables as long and as often as I +can, using a harrow; cultivate after every rain if possible, and the +drier the ground, the oftener the better. Windbreaks are essential; +would make them of cottonwood, as they make the finest growth with us. +For rabbits I wrap the trees with cloth; have not been able to catch or +poison the gophers yet. I prune to maintain low heads and to make +shapely trees without forks, and think it beneficial. I never thin my +fruit. Do not think it makes any difference whether trees are planted in +blocks of one variety, or mixed up. I mulch my orchard to retain +moisture; would not advise it on all soils, as the moles make their home +in it and soon kill the trees. I do not pasture my orchard; do not think +it advisable. The gophers have done more damage by cutting off the roots +than all the other pests. Am also troubled with grasshoppers. Never have +sprayed, but am going to this spring; will use the same chemicals as are +used at the experiment station. I irrigate [sub]; can flood the ground, +but don't need to; it is wet enough without. + + * * * * * + +J. W. SOMER, Wilson, Ellsworth county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-two +years; have an apple orchard of seventy-five trees. For all purposes I +prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and Smith's Cider. Have tried and discarded +Arkansas Black, Lawver, Jonathan, and Rawle's Janet. I prefer limestone +bottom land with southeast slope. I prefer two-year-old trees three to +five feet tall. I cultivate my orchard two or three years with a common +stirring plow and cultivator, and plant nothing. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of forest-trees, walls, or Osage hedge. They +ought to be planted before starting the orchard. For rabbits I wrap my +trees with corn-stalks. I prune only to make trees symmetrical. Do not +thin my apples. I mulch my trees; think it beneficial, but would not +advise it on all soils. Do not pasture my orchard. Trees are troubled +with twig-borer. + + * * * * * + +J. D. GRIFFITHS, Kanopolis, Ellsworth county: Have lived in Kansas +eighteen years; have an apple orchard of thirty trees. Have some trees +planted on bottom land. I cultivate my orchard to sweet corn as long as +the trees will admit, using a plow and a one-horse, five-tooth +cultivator. I prune to give trees good shape. I fertilize my orchard +with well-rotted stable litter. Do not pasture my orchard. Am troubled +with no insect but borers. I spray the trees when leafing out, and once +a week for five or six weeks after that time, to ward off the insects. I +probe for insects not affected by spraying. I do not irrigate. Prices +have been from fifty cents to one dollar per bushel. Dried apples have +been about eight cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +M. E. WELLS, Athol, Smith county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-six +years; have an orchard of twelve acres, from five to fourteen years. For +commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin; and for +family orchard Early Harvest and Winesap. I prefer hilltop of thin clay, +resting on yellow silt, with a northern slope. I prefer two-year-old, +stocky trees planted in dead furrows. I cultivate my orchard to corn as +long as there is space enough between the rows; use two five-tooth +cultivators lashed together, and cease cropping after twelve years. +Windbreaks are not essential. I protect against rabbits and borers by +eternal vigilance in hunting them. I prune by cutting out limbs, so they +will not crowd each other; think it pays. I do not thin the fruit while +on the trees. My trees are in mixed plantings. I do not fertilize my +orchard; I think shallow cultivation is better. I do not pasture my +orchard with anything excepting chickens. Trees are troubled with +tent-caterpillar; some worm affects my apples. I sometimes spray with +lime and copperas, and have not been very successful. Insects not +affected by spraying I dig out with penknife and wire. I pick my apples +by hand from a common ladder; sort into three classes--first, smooth and +free from worms; second, free from worms; the balance in the third +grade. I sell apples in the orchard; also retail them. I handle the best +apples very carefully, one at a time, and place in crates. Keep the +second and third-grade apples at home; feed the culls to hogs. My best +market is in the orchard; never tried distant markets. Never dry any. I +store apples for winter in a cellar on shelves, one layer of fruit on +each shelf--am successful; Ben Davis keeps best. Never tried artificial +cold storage. Do not irrigate. Price has been fifty cents per bushel. I +employ women, because they handle the fruit with more care than men do; +I pay one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +ISAAC CLARK, Oberlin, Decatur county: I have lived in Kansas ten years. +I have 1250 apple trees, eight years planted, as fine as they can be. My +market varieties are: Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Rawle's Janet, and Ben +Davis, and for family I added Maiden's Blush, Red Astrachan, and Sweet +June. I prefer clay soil, on hilltop; any slope is good. Plant trees in +good condition and fine appearance, on ground plowed deep and disced +just as deeply. I cultivate very often with five-tooth cultivator, and +never quit. Every third year I plow with a one-horse diamond plow. I +raised melons for the first three years; after that nothing. I have no +use for windbreaks. I tie with corn-stalks, to protect against rabbits. +I prune very little, to form the top, with knife and saw; keep +straggling branches out. I use very little fertilizer; only on thin +soil. I never pasture the orchard. Have some twig-borers and +leaf-crumplers. I have never sprayed yet; it may soon be necessary. I +have kept my trees tied up with corn-stalks for six years; the bodies +are healthy; no sun-scald and no borers. My best market is at home. I +have stored some for winter, in barrels in a cave, and find that the +Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Rawle's Janet keep best, the latter +keeping until July. I have been able to sell in the spring at fifty +cents per peck. + + * * * * * + +JOHN M. C. KROENLIN, Lincoln, Lincoln county: I have resided in Kansas +twenty-one years. Have an apple orchard of 178 trees, from four to +fourteen years old, three to twelve inches in diameter. For market I +prefer Winesap and Missouri Pippin, and for family use Missouri Pippin, +Cooper's Early White, and Winesap. I prefer bottom land, with a black +loam soil and sandy subsoil; I believe a level location best. For +planting I prefer two-year-old trees, set in holes dug three feet square +and one and one-half feet deep; throw out all soil and use good surface +soil; never apply water to the roots. I cultivate my orchard until the +trees are seven years old, using a disc, and then a harrow to level the +ground, and plant no crop. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of +Russian mulberries, on south and west sides. I have cottonwood +windbreaks on the east and north of my orchard; those on the east +protect the trees from the morning sun, thereby lessening the danger +when there is frost on the buds, and those on the north I keep trimmed +high, so as to admit of a free circulation of air, which is a protection +against frost. For rabbits I wrap my trees with corn-stalks, which I +think the best way. I prune with an ax, knife, and saw, and think it +beneficial and that it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. +My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard with well-rotted +cow-stable litter, which I think has been beneficial. I do not pasture +my orchard; I do not think it advisable. My trees are troubled with +canker-worm, but not bad, and my apples with codling-moth. I spray after +the blossoms fall, with London purple (which will kill every time), for +canker-worm. I stand on step-ladder and pick my apples by hand. I sell +them in the orchard, at retail, and feed the culls to the chickens. +Lincoln is my best market. Have never tried distant markets. Don't dry +any; it does not pay. I am successful in storing apples in bulk in a +cellar, and find Winesap and Missouri Pippin keep best. I do not +irrigate. Prices have been from ten cents to two dollars per bushel, the +same season; dried apples four cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +J. H. SAYLES & SON, Norcatur, Decatur county: Have been in Kansas +fifteen years; have 300 apple trees, eight years planted, six inches in +diameter. For market I planted Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, +Winter Duchess (?), and I added for family use Jonathan, Duchess of +Oldenburg, and Red June. I have tried and discarded the Mann, Walbridge, +Baldwin, Northern Spy, and Red Astrachan. I have black, northwest Kansas +prairie soil, with northeast slope. Our well is seventeen feet deep, and +fruit never fails. Plant low, healthy, two-year-old trees, in deep +furrows, plowed parallel with the slope, putting the trees twenty by +thirty feet. I have raised some splendid seedlings. I draw on large +quantities of stable litter. I grow nothing in the orchard; cultivate +with double shovel, drag, and hoe, keeping the ground flat. I believe +windbreaks are essential, and would make them of Russian mulberry and +white elm, set one row of elm one year old, twelve to twenty-four +inches, then two rows of Russian mulberry six feet apart, alternating. +For rabbits I fence with wire. I prune with knife and saw, thinning out +the tops, and think it pays. I believe in thinning the fruit as soon as +it is large enough, and would plant mixed varieties. Our Jonathan never +bore until the Ben Davis near by bloomed. I scatter stable litter as for +grain, and it is beneficial, as trees not fertilized die out here; it is +good on all kinds of soil. Never pasture the orchard. We have some +leaf-roller, fall web-worm, and codling-moth, but have never sprayed +any. We dig borers out with a wire. We pick by hand, and sort into three +grades: numbers 1 and 2, and cider stock. We never sell in the orchard, +but retail our best in one-bushel crates. Our culls we feed out to farm +stock early. Our best market is at home and west; never tried distant +markets. Have never tried drying or storing for winter. Do not irrigate, +but cultivate often. Prices range from 60 cents to $1.25 per bushel. We +use some farm help at fifteen to eighteen dollars per month. + + * * * * * + +W. J. BRUMAGE, Beloit, Mitchell county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-four +years; have an orchard of 1000 very large apple trees, from twelve to +twenty years old. For commercial purposes would prefer Ben Davis, +Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Duchess of Oldenburg, Early Harvest, Red June, +Willow Twig, Maiden's Blush, Cooper's Early White, and Pewaukee, and for +family orchard Ben Davis, Winesap, Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, and +Duchess of Oldenburg. I prefer hilltop, clay loam, with northeast slope. +I plow a ditch and set two-year-old trees a little deeper than they were +in the nursery. Have tried root-grafts and seedlings; were no good. I +cultivate with garden-truck until twelve or fourteen years old, using a +plow to stir the ground, and seed bearing orchard to grass. I use no +windbreaks. I prune to keep the tree from getting bushy; I think it +beneficial. I never thin my fruit. Cannot see any difference in trees +whether planted in blocks or mixed up. Use no fertilizer, and would not +advise its use. Do not pasture orchard; do not think it advisable. My +trees are troubled with canker-worm, flathead borers, twig-borer, and +leaf roller. Codling-moth and curculio trouble my fruit. I spray with +London purple, using a pump, just after the blossom falls, for the +codling-moth, and think I have reduced them. I pick my fruit by hand, +and pack in barrels. I sort into two classes, good and bad. Have sold +them in the orchard; sometimes retail; my best market is home; have +never tried distant markets. I make vinegar of the culls. Never dry any. +Store some for winter market in bulk in a cave; am successful; Winesap, +Willow Twig and Ben Davis keep the best. Have never tried artificial +cold storage. Have to repack stored apples before marketing; we lose +about one-fourth. Do not irrigate. Prices average about fifty cents per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +JOHN E. DAVID, Winona, Logan county: Have lived in Kansas thirteen +years; have an apple orchard of ninety trees from seven to ten years +old. I prefer level land, black loam with a clay subsoil, and an eastern +slope. I prefer thrifty, healthy trees, set in holes three feet deep. I +cultivate my orchard to beans and melons, using a cultivator and plow +for six years; then cease cropping. Windbreaks are essential; would make +them of honey-locust, planted in rows on north [?] and south. For +protection from rabbits I use wire screening, and dig the borers out. I +prune my trees with a knife to give big growth, and think it beneficial. +I never thin my apples while on the trees. My trees are planted in +blocks. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; think it beneficial +and would advise it out here. I never pasture my orchard. Am not +troubled with insects. Do not spray. Do not irrigate. + + * * * * * + +P. F. JOHNSON, Oberlin, Decatur county: Have lived in Kansas seven +years; Have 200 apple trees, four to eight years old, and seven to +fifteen feet high. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis. For +family use, Red June, Winesap, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Jonathan, and Ben +Davis. I prefer bottom land, with deep, black loam and clay subsoil, +north slope. I plant two-year-old trees, in rows north and south, as +close as the different varieties will allow. I cultivate as long as the +trees live, with plow and cultivator, allowing them to go no deeper than +three inches. I plant the young orchard to beans, pumpkins, and +squashes; the same in a bearing orchard, and never cease cropping. +Windbreaks are essential. I would make them of Russian mulberry and +ash, and keep them cultivated. I tie dry corn-stalks around young trees +to protect from rabbits. Never prune. Never thin. I use stable litter as +a fertilizer and mulch; I think it advisable in this latitude. I pasture +my orchard in fall and winter with hogs, and think it advisable. My +trees are troubled with roundhead borer, twig-borer, and grasshoppers. I +do not spray. Have never irrigated, but intend to soon. Prices have been +from $1 to $1.50 per bushel. + + * * * * * + +W. B. STOCKARD, Beloit, Mitchell county: I have lived in the state since +1871. Have an apple orchard of 800 trees. For all purposes I prefer +Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Jonathan, and Jefferis. Have tried and +discarded Ben Davis and Limber Twig. I prefer bottom land with a clay +subsoil; southeast slope. I prefer two-year-old trees, planted +twenty-four feet apart, then thin them out when they crowd. I cultivate +my orchard to corn and potatoes, using a cultivator and drop harrow, and +cease cropping when about six years old; plant nothing in a bearing +orchard. Windbreaks are not essential. To protect the trees from rabbits +I rub with rabbits' blood, and whitewash for borers. I prune very +little; remove dead limbs, and clip the others; think it beneficial if +not too severe. I do not thin my fruit while on the trees; it does not +pay. It is not necessary to set trees in mixed plantings when you keep +bees. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; think corn-stalks best, +it has proven beneficial; would advise its use on all soils. Do not +pasture my orchard; is not advisable; does not pay. My trees are +troubled with tent-caterpillar, bud moth, root aphis, bag-worm, +roundhead borer, woolly aphis, twig-borer, oyster-shell bark-louse, and +my apples with curculio. I spray just before the bud swells, and after +they bloom, with white arsenic; sal soda and lime for canker-worms and +moths; think I have reduced the codling-moth. I hand-pick my apples; +sort into two classes. Sell in the orchard, wholesale, retail, and +peddle; keep the best apples at home; make vinegar of the second and +third grades, and culls. Never tried distant markets. Find a ready +market for dried apples; but it does not pay. I store apples for winter +use in a circular arched cave, in barrels; find Winesap and Missouri +Pippin keep best. I do not irrigate. Price has been fifty cents per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +P. WAGNER, Dresden, Decatur county: I have lived in the state twelve +years. Have an apple orchard of fifty trees, planted last spring. I +prefer hilltop, with an east or north aspect. I cultivate my orchard +with a cultivator and harrow, growing no crop. Would make windbreaks of +locust trees. For rabbits I use barrel staves. I do not prune, or thin +the fruit while on the trees. My trees are in mixed plantings. I +fertilize my orchard with stable litter, and think it beneficial, and +would advise its use on all soils. I do not pasture my orchard; do not +think it advisable; it does not pay. I do not spray. I water my orchard. +Apples have been one dollar per bushel; dried apples, five cents per +pound. + + * * * * * + +JOHN ELDER, Glen Elder, Mitchell county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years; have an apple orchard of 280 trees, from twelve to +twenty-six years planted. For family orchard I prefer Cooper's Early +White, Early Harvest, Chenango Strawberry, Maiden's Blush, Missouri +Pippin, and Ben Davis. Have tried and discarded Willow Twig, Lowell, and +White Winter Pearmain, on account of blight and sun-scald. I prefer hill +land, with black loam soil and clay subsoil; a northeast slope. I prefer +two-year-old trees, planted in dead furrows. I cultivate my orchard to +corn for a number of years, using a lister, while the trees are young, +and a disc when they get older. I cease cropping after six or eight +years, and plant nothing in a bearing orchard. When windbreaks are close +enough to do good they sap the ground too much. I wrap the trees to +protect them from rabbits, and keep them growing and healthy, for +borers. I prune my trees, and think it beneficial. I do not thin the +fruit on the trees. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter, and think +it keeps a tree healthy and growing, which will protect it from borers +and other insects. Do not pasture my orchard; do not think it advisable. +My apples are troubled with curculio and gouger. I have sprayed after +the blossom fell, with Paris green, London purple, and blue vitriol; +don't know that I reduced the codling-moth any. For insects not affected +by spraying I bored a one-half inch hole in the trees this spring and +filled it with sulphur; then plugged it up. [?????] I sell apples in the +orchard; also retail. I do not dry any. Prices have been from +twenty-five cents to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +C. A. PERDUE, Beloit, Mitchell county: Have lived in Kansas eighteen +years. Have an apple orchard of about 250 trees. I prefer the Missouri +Pippin for commercial purposes. I prefer a black loam soil with a clay +subsoil; north slope. In planting trees, I would set them thirty feet +apart; mine are twenty feet and are too close. I have cultivated my +orchard, but think I did not do it right. A light culture to keep the +soil loose on top, to act as a mulch, would, I think, be beneficial. +Think it best to grow no crop in the orchard. I think windbreaks would +be beneficial. For rabbits I use woven wire. I prune to lessen the tops; +I think it ought to be done every year, so as never to cut any large +limbs; I think it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees, but +think it would be an advantage. I have put stable litter in my orchard +two or three times during the last fifteen years, but do not think it +necessary; the land is rich enough without; would not advise its use on +all soils. I do not pasture my orchard; it is not advisable; it does not +pay. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, bud moth, +and flathead borer. I do not spray. Always sell in the local market. I +do not dry any. I store some for winter use, in a cellar in boxes, +barrels, and bins. We have to repack stored apples before marketing. +Prices for winter apples have been from fifty to seventy-five cents. + + * * * * * + +CHAS. VAIL, Colby, Thomas county: I have lived in Kansas twelve years; +have an apple orchard of 150 trees seven years old, from seven to eleven +feet. I plant my orchard to corn and potatoes for two or three years, +then nothing; use a common cultivator. Windbreaks are not essential. For +rabbits I use tar paper. I prune very little, and rub off young sprouts. +Can see no difference whether trees are in blocks of a kind or mixed +plantings. I do not fertilize my orchard; it is very injurious here. I +do not pasture my orchard. My trees are troubled with tobacco worms [?] +and grasshoppers. I do not spray. Do not irrigate. + + * * * * * + +HUDSON BROS., Kanopolis, Ellsworth county: Have lived in Kansas +thirty-four years; have an apple orchard of fifty trees, six to thirty +years old, from four to eighteen inches in diameter. For commercial +purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap, and for +family use would add Duchess of Oldenburg. I prefer sandy bottom land. I +plant three-year-old trees thirty feet apart each way, in well-plowed +land. I cultivate my orchard to corn or potatoes till the trees are ten +years old; sow rye in bearing orchard; mow in June, and then plow; never +have ceased cropping. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of +forest-trees planted in a belt around the orchard. I fertilize my +orchard with barn-yard litter; think it beneficial; would advise its +use to a certain extent on all soils. I pasture my orchard with hogs, +and think it advisable. My trees are troubled with flathead borers. I do +not spray. + + * * * * * + +E. W. O'TOOLE, Collyer, Trego county: I have resided in Kansas nineteen +years. Have an apple orchard of sixty-four trees, twenty-two of which +are fourteen years old, and thirty-seven inches in circumference. For +commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis, and for family Early Harvest and +Winesap. I prefer black loam with sandy bottom, south slope. I plant +two-year-old trees, in rows eighteen feet apart. I do not cultivate my +orchard, but mulch it with hay for four years. Windbreaks are essential +here; would make them of cottonwood trees, planted in rows around the +orchard. For protection against rabbits I use whitewash and tar paper. I +prune to thin the tops; think it beneficial. The wind thins my apples +for me. I fertilize my orchard with hay; think it beneficial, and would +advise its use on all soils. Do not pasture my orchard. I shall spray +this year after the bloom falls with London purple and lime water. I +peddle my apples. This is the best market, because they are scarce. I am +successful in keeping a few bushels in a pit; the Missouri Pippin keeps +best. I do not irrigate. I am located on bottom land. Price has been one +dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +M. A. WILSON, Atwood, Rawlins county: I have resided in the state +nineteen years; have an apple orchard of fifty trees ten years old, six +inches in diameter. For all purposes I prefer Winesap and Ben Davis. I +prefer bottom land with a dark loam and a clay subsoil, with a northern +slope. I prefer two-year-old trees with good tops and stocky bodies, set +in early spring, sixteen to twenty feet apart. I plant my orchard to +corn, potatoes, and garden-truck, using a hoe and cultivator; have never +ceased cropping. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of Russian +mulberries planted twelve feet apart each way; trim and cultivate them. +For rabbits I wrap the trees with rags or burlap cut in strips three or +four inches wide; begin at the bottom and wind up; if the limbs are near +the ground, wrap them, too. I prune with a small keyhole saw and shears +to keep the tree hardy, and think it pays. I thin my apples when they +are about half grown; it pays. I fertilize my orchard with stable +litter; it has been beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils. +Do not pasture my orchard. Trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar and +flathead borer. I do not spray. I stand on a step-ladder and pick my +apples, laying them in the baskets as carefully as though they were +eggs. I sort into two classes--best, and second grade. I sell apples in +the orchard; retail the best, second and third grades; use and sell the +culls. Home is my best market. I do not dry or store any for winter +market. I irrigate, lifting the water twenty feet by an elevator and +horse power from creek. Prices have been from $1 to $1.60 per bushel. +Dried apples, sixteen pounds for one dollar. I employ hands at from +fifteen dollars to eighteen dollars per month. + + * * * * * + +F. T. M. DUTCHER, Phillipsburg, Phillips county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-six years; have an apple orchard of 100 trees from eight to ten +years old. For market I prefer Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, and Winesap, +and for family orchard Ben Davis and Winesap. I prefer a bottom which +has a sandy soil and a clay subsoil, with a northeast slope. I set +two-year-old trees in listed ditches. I plant my orchard to potatoes as +long as possible; use a five-tooth cultivator; cease cropping when the +trees shade the ground, and plant nothing in a bearing orchard. +Windbreaks are not essential. For rabbits I tie corn-stalks around the +tree, leaving them on the year round. I prune my trees with a knife; +think it beneficial, and that it pays. I thin apples, if necessary, as +soon as established. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter, and +would advise its use on all soils. I never pasture my orchard; do not +think it advisable. My trees are troubled with borers, and my apples +with curculio. I do not spray. I dig borers out. I make only one grade +of my apples, and feed the culls to pigs, and use all the rest at home. +I do not dry any. I irrigate a little; have a pond around the trees. + + * * * * * + +D. E. STEVENS, Norton, Norton county: I have resided in the State +eighteen years. Have an apple orchard of 100 trees from ten to fifteen +years old, three to six inches in diameter. My orchard should be +composed of Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Pewaukee, Jonathan, Willow Twig, +Maiden's Blush, Snow and two kinds of Russets (and I haven't a Russet in +the orchard!!), Early Harvest, one or two sweets (and I haven't a sweet +in the orchard!), which proves to me that an agent will sell you any +variety you want, and ship what they happen to have. I prefer bottom +land with a loamy soil and a clay subsoil, with a northern slope. I +prefer three-year-old, low-top trees, cut back, set in a furrow made +with a lister and dug out with a spade. I plant my orchard to corn, +using a stirring plow and harrow, and am still cultivating; would plant +corn or clover in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; would +make them of Russian mulberries. For rabbits I wrap with fine meshed +wire. I prune my trees with a saw and knife to give sunlight, and make +larger fruit; think it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. +My trees are in mixed plantings. I mulch my orchard late in the fall +with coarse manure; would advise it on all soils, unless very rich. Feed +your soil if you would have thrifty trees. I pasture my orchard with +hogs; I think it advisable, and that it pays because they keep the soil +loose. Trees are troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, and +borers; and my apples with worms. I do not spray, but ought to. I +hand-pick my apples. I dry some for family use. I do not irrigate, but +am confident we need more water. + + * * * * * + +JESSE ROYER, Gove, Gove county: Have lived in Kansas thirteen years. I +have four apple trees seven years old. I prefer upland with an eastern +or northeast slope. For planting, I prefer good two-year-old trees. I +cultivate my orchard all the time; would plant corn, and cultivate with +any tool that would do good work and kill the weeds; would not plant any +crop in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of +any kind of forest-trees excepting walnut; plant two or three rows of +them all around the orchard. I prune some to give shape to trees and +take out all dead branches, and think it pays. I think a good rich [?] +mulching would be beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils. Do +not pasture my orchard. I would spray if it was necessary; insects are +not very bad here. I do not dry any. + + +FRUIT DISTRICT No. 3. + +Following is the third fruit district, comprised of thirty-one counties +in the southwest quarter of the state. Reports, or rather experiences, +from each of these counties will be found immediately following. We give +below the number of apple trees in the third district, compiled from the +statistics of 1897. Many thousands were added in the spring of 1898. + + _Bearing._ _Not bearing._ _Total._ + Barber 12,901 16,384 29,285 + Barton 25,146 24,196 49,342 + Clark 735 1,942 2,677 + Comanche 1,010 1,512 2,522 + Edwards 3,378 6,672 10,050 + Finney 6,139 10,559 16,698 + Ford 2,281 4,178 6,459 + Grant 852 300 1,152 + Gray 410 2,715 3,125 + Greeley 10 402 412 + Hamilton 741 2,242 2,983 + Harper 36,296 20,508 56,804 + Haskell 328 141 469 + Hodgeman 415 675 1,090 + Kearny 4,405 7,312 11,717 + Kingman 39,249 23,416 62,765 + Kiowa 1,683 2,212 3,895 + Lane 1,647 2,524 4,171 + Meade 1,340 2,200 3,540 + Ness 1,188 1,630 2,818 + Pawnee 11,137 7,800 18,937 + Pratt 12,894 12,963 25,857 + Reno 141,460 280,713 422,173 + Rice 65,069 45,133 110,202 + Rush 2,118 2,629 4,747 + Scott 229 1,936 2,165 + Seward 432 602 1,034 + Stafford 22,914 27,377 50,291 + Stanton 10 150 160 + Stevens 897 1,651 2,548 + Wichita 90 959 1,049 + ------- ------- ------- + Total in district 397,304 513,633 910,937 + Estimated acreage 60,000 100,000 160,000 + + * * * * * + +D. J. McNEAL, Scott, Scott county: I have lived in Kansas ten years; +have an apple orchard of sixty-five trees five years old, seven feet +high. I prefer a clay soil with a north aspect. I plant two-year-old +trees in ground that has been plowed for two years before planting. I +cultivate my orchard with a disc harrow and cultivator, and plant +nothing. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of cottonwoods. I rub +rabbits' blood on the trees to protect them from other rabbits. I prune +my trees with a knife and a fine saw; I think it beneficial. I have +fertilized my orchard with stable litter, but it causes a too rapid +growth; I would not advise its use on all soils. I do not pasture my +orchard; it is not advisable; it does not pay. I am not troubled with +insects, and do not spray. I do not irrigate, but think it would pay. + + * * * * * + +G. O. VICK, Fowler, Meade county: Have lived in Kansas fourteen years. I +planted an apple orchard twelve years ago; have about fifty Missouri +Pippins, that have not failed to give us a crop for seven or eight +years; last fall we got three bushels from a single tree--the most ever +taken from one tree by us. They are fine keepers, and are said to be +much better, both in color and flavor, than those grown farther east. We +have kept them in fine condition until July following, and then the +supply gave out. Have no trees where they can be irrigated, but hope to +put out an orchard next spring that can be irrigated. I have the finest +location [for irrigation] in the West, and will do my best. I prefer +valley land, with a southeast slope. Prices have been two dollars per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +C. A. BLACKMORE, Sharon, Barber county: I have lived in the state about +five years; have an orchard of 1100 apple trees, three years old, two +inches in diameter, seven feet high. For market I prefer Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Early Harvest, Benoni, and Maiden's Blush. +When planting a family orchard select varieties from the earliest to the +latest, that they may be well supplied. In planting a commercial orchard +I would study the wants and demands of the people, also the varieties +best adapted to our soil and climate. Do not be like an experiment +station and plant all varieties catalogued. A mongrel orchard, like +mongrel stock, is not good property. The man who has a hundred bushels +of some one good variety of apples can always get the best price for +them; but if the hundred bushels consisted of ten or a dozen varieties +there would not be enough of any one variety to attract a buyer, and +consequently he must take what he can get for them. Select such +varieties as the market demands, and then confine your planting to as +few varieties as possible, and your commercial orchard will attract +buyers. I prefer a bottom, with a dark, sandy or red land, with a +reddish clay subsoil, north or northeast slope. I plant thrifty +two-year-old trees, in ground plowed deeply and marked off with a lister +sixteen by thirty feet; then set the trees four to six inches deeper +than they stood in the nursery, in holes dug at the crossings. I haul my +trees to the field in a barrel two-thirds full of water, take them out +one at a time and trim all the broken and long roots, arranging them in +natural positions and turning the ends down in the hole, leaning the +tree toward the two P. M. sun; then I fill the hole, using a rammer +while a boy shovels the dirt in. If the soil is dry pour two or three +gallons of water on the roots. When the water has soaked away finish +filling the hole, and tramp the soil lightly around the tree. When they +are all set, cut them well back. + +I cultivate my orchard from early spring to the 1st of September, using +a plow, cultivator, and disc; I plant corn in a young orchard, and cease +cropping after eight years, and plant nothing in a bearing orchard. +Windbreaks are essential on the south and west, and I would make them of +Russian mulberries. For rabbits I rub rabbits' blood on the trees twice +during the winter. Borers I cut out the first year; after that I drown +them out by cultivation. I prune my trees while they are small, to give +shape. I think it pays, as you do not have to cut off large branches +when grown. Do not have to thin fruit here in Kansas. I do not plant a +solid block of any one kind of trees; I intermingle the varieties in +alternate rows, and insure more perfect pollination. I fertilize my +orchard with stable litter; it pays especially well on sandy soil, and I +would advise its use on all soils. Don't expect your trees to produce +something for nothing; feed them. I do not pasture my orchard; it is not +advisable, and does not pay. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, +tent-caterpillar, bud moth, root aphis, bag-worm, flathead borer, +roundhead borer, woolly aphis, twig-borer, and oyster-shell bark-louse, +and my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray. Hunt the insect eggs +and nests in your trees, and destroy the source of much loss to your +fruit this season. In picking, I use a ladder to reach the apples in the +top of the trees; put them in a grain sack over my shoulder with a stick +in the mouth; have gathered sixty bushels per day for weeks at a time in +this way. Prices have been from one dollar to two dollars per bushel, +and dried apples five to eight cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +A. D. EINSEL, Greensburg, Kiowa county: I have lived in the state twelve +years. I plant thrifty one-year-old trees, in holes large enough to +receive the roots, cover the roots with earth, and then pour in a pail +of water. When this is soaked away fill the hole nearly full of earth. I +cultivated my orchard to corn, using a spring-tooth harrow, to keep the +soil loose and kill the weeds. Am going to plant another apple orchard. +I think western Kansas will yet grow apples. + + * * * * * + +A. N. PATTERSON, Ford, Ford county: I have lived in Kansas seventeen +years. Have an apple orchard of 100 trees five years old. I fertilize my +orchard with stable litter. Do not pasture my orchard; do not think it +advisable. I do not irrigate. + + * * * * * + +JOHN HINDS, Olcott, Reno county: I have resided in the state thirteen +years. Have an apple orchard of 500 trees; 375 of them are three years +old, and the balance eight years old. For commercial orchard I prefer +Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, and Grimes's Golden +Pippin; and for family orchard Early Harvest and Maiden's Blush. I have +tried and discarded Greening, Baldwin, and Missouri Keeper. I prefer a +sandy bottom with a clay subsoil, and eastern aspect. I prefer +three-year-old trees, set in the spring. I prune the roots and tops when +setting. I plant my orchard to corn or potatoes for six or eight years; +plow shallow; cease cropping after eight years, and plant nothing but +clover and orchard-grass in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; +would make them of mulberries planted one or two feet apart all around +the orchard. For rabbits I make a varnish and apply to the trees in the +fall. I prune my trees in June when they are large, so as to let in +light and sun; I use a tree pruner; think it pays. I do not thin the +fruit while on the trees. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize +my orchard with stable litter, but do not put it close to the trees; I +think it beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils. I pasture my +orchard with hogs; I think it pays. My trees are troubled with fall +web-worm and leaf-roller. I do not spray. I pick my apples by hand; sort +into three classes from piles. Pack them in barrels and haul to market +on wagon. I sell apples in the orchard at retail. Make vinegar of the +culls. I store some apples for home use. Price has been one dollar per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +HENRY MILLER, Ulysses, Grant county: Have lived in Kansas fifteen years. +I have 256 apple trees, nine and ten years planted, from three to five +inches in diameter. I grow for market Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and Ben +Davis, adding for family use Maiden's Blush and Grimes's Golden Pippin. +I prefer bottom land, northeast slope, sandy soil, and gypsum subsoil. I +plant in squares twenty-four by twenty-four feet. I have cultivated up +to date with stirring plow and cultivator. I grow garden-truck among my +trees until seven years old; after that nothing. I believe windbreaks +essential in this county, and would make them of Russian mulberry, +cottonwood, and locust. I would plant on the outside a row of mulberry +four feet apart; next, a row of cottonwood or locust eight feet apart. +To prevent destruction by rabbits I rub with fresh blood. I prune with +a knife to prevent watersprouts from getting too thick; I am sure it +pays, and lets sunshine into the center of the trees. I use stable +litter, straw or rotted hay for fertilizer. I do not pasture my orchard, +and have no insects but grasshoppers. Our crop has been light, owing to +dry weather. I sell largely in the orchard. Our best market is at home. +We dry a few for home use. I keep some for winter use, in a cave dug out +and covered with earth. I do not irrigate. The prevailing price for +apples is one dollar per bushel, and of dried apples, six cents per +pound. + + * * * * * + +E. T. DANIELS, Kiowa, Barber county: I have lived in the state +twenty-five years. Have an apple orchard of 150 trees, from ten to +sixteen years old, four to eight inches in diameter. For market I prefer +Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Jonathan, Twenty-ounce Pippin, Maiden's Blush, +and Rawle's Janet. Would plant the same varieties for a family orchard. +Have tried and discarded Ben Davis, Early Harvest, Smith's Cider, +Lawver, Fink, Walbridge, and McAfee; they will not stand the heat and +drought. I prefer bottom land, with heavy loam and red subsoil, +southeast slope, sheltered from north and south winds. I prefer a good +yearling tree, planted in a dead furrow; after planting, plow two +furrows to the tree, and then harrow. I plant my orchard to corn for two +years only, using a twelve-inch plow, cultivator, and harrow. I +cultivate my orchard as long as it lives, and plant nothing in a bearing +orchard. Windbreaks are essential on the south and north; would make +them of a belt of deciduous trees, six rods wide on the north, and +one-half as wide on the south; would make this of native trees--elm, +ash, or mulberry. For rabbits I wrap the trees with hay. I prune my +young trees with the thumb and finger mostly, forming low heads; bearing +trees I prune very little, except to take out the blighted limbs. I thin +my apples when too full, when about the size of marbles; believe it +pays. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard with +stable litter and ashes, but cannot see any benefit; think it would do +no harm, unless heavy coats of coarse manure are plowed under. Never +have pastured my orchard, but am going to very soon; am fencing now, so +I can turn in hogs. My trees are troubled with twig-borer, and my apples +with codling-moth. I do not spray. I sell apples in the orchard, and +peddle the best second and third grades; give the culls to the hogs. My +best market is in Oklahoma; never have tried distant markets. I am +successful in keeping apples for family use in bulk in a cyclone cellar +dug in the red rock. Missouri Pippin keep the best for me. Prices have +been from fifty cents to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +D. D. WHITE, Enon, Harper county: Have lived in Kansas twenty years; +have 500 apple trees planted from three to eighteen years. For +commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap. +For family orchard I would add Maiden's Blush and Grimes's Golden +Pippin. I prefer sandy bottom with an eastern slope. I would plant +yearling trees, with every limb cut off, in rows twenty feet north and +south, and forty feet east and west. Cultivate with double-shovel plow +until they get too big to get among them, and grow nothing near them. I +believe in a windbreak of mulberry, or any trees planted thickly, on the +south. I prune only so that I can get under the trees. I use plenty of +barn-yard litter, for it pays in the orchard. I pasture my orchard with +hogs, and think it advisable, as it pays. I have sprayed, but never saw +any good in it. I dig the borers out with a wire, unless they are in the +heart of the tree, and then there is no help for the tree. I pick from a +step-ladder, and sort into three classes: windfalls, wormy, and perfect. +In picking we drop the decayed and gnarly to the ground, carry the rest +in baskets to the barrel, put the perfect ones in one barrel, and the +others in another. Do not disturb the best ones until you sell; the +others should be sorted again before you sell. I sell some in the +orchard, but peddle mostly; my best I sell to the stores in the spring; +of the culls I make cider. My best market is the towns in the "Strip." I +dry some satisfactorily on a cook-stove evaporator, pack in flour sacks, +and find a ready and profitable market for them in the spring. I store +successfully for winter in bulk and in barrels in a cave with +eighteen-inch wall arched over from the bottom. I find that Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin and Winesap keep the best. We lose, perhaps, +one-sixteenth. I do not irrigate. Prices range from 50 cents to $1.50 +per bushel, and dried apples from five to twelve cents per pound. I use +only farm hands at fifteen dollars per month and board. + + * * * * * + +AMOS JOHNSON, Ellinwood, Barton county: Have been in Kansas twenty-three +years; have an orchard of 2000 apple trees, planted from three to twelve +years. Varieties for market: Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Smith's Cider, +and Northern Spy; for family use, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Smith's +Cider, Maiden's Blush, and Red June. Have no use whatever for Ben Davis. +Prefer bottom land, with black, sandy soil and a southern aspect. Plant +good, thrifty two-year-old trees 25x25 feet. I plant corn or potatoes +for three or four years, and after that nothing; thoroughly cultivate +with the plow, disc, and harrow. I think a windbreak on the south side +very essential, and would make it of cottonwood and Russian mulberry, in +five rows, alternating, six feet apart. I use soap and turpentine for +the borers, and hounds for the rabbits. I believe pruning pays, and +makes the fruit much nicer. I use common pruning shears, and prune so +that the sun can get in. Never have thinned apples on the trees, but +believe it would be a good thing. I believe in fertilizing with stable +litter; think it keeps the orchard thrifty and more fruitful. I have +never kept any stock in the orchard, but believe it would be advisable +and no detriment to pasture with hogs in June and July. Have never +sprayed any. I pick from step-ladders into baskets, and sort into three +classes: No. 1 are sold in barrels, No. 2 in bulk, and No. 3 go for +cider. I have sold a few wagon-loads in the orchard, but I sell my best +apples by the bushel late in winter; I usually sell the second-grade +apples first, and make the culls into cider. My best market is in the +counties north and west of us; have never tried a distant market. Never +dried any. For winter we store in barrels, and are successful. The +Missouri Pippin and Willow Twig keep best. I irrigate on a small scale. +Prices average about one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +S. S. DICKINSON, Larned, Pawnee county: Has lived in Kansas thirty-three +years, and has an apple orchard of 1800 trees, planted from seven to +fifteen years. For commercial purposes he prefers Missouri Pippin, +Winesap, Willow Twig, Ben Davis, and Rome Beauty, and for family use +adds early apples. Has tried and discarded Red Winter Pearmain, because +of blight. He is located in river bottom, with sandy soil, and a blue +clay subsoil. Prefers a north and east slope. Plants two-year-old trees, +with heads two feet from the ground, in deep dead furrows. Cultivates +until the middle of July with a disc harrow, plow, and weeder. Never +ceases cultivation. In the young orchard he plants corn, potatoes, and +garden-truck, and would plant the same in a bearing orchard, and cease +cropping when the trees got too large. Windbreaks are essential; would +make them of any fast growing timber, by planting two rows, six to eight +feet apart, and three feet in the row. For borers and rabbits he uses +paint, whitewash, and poison. He prunes his trees with a knife and +shears, and thins out the tops to let the sun in, and thinks it pays, +and is beneficial. He thins the fruit as soon as he sees that it is too +thick. His trees are in mixed plantings, and fertilized with all the +stable litter he can get. He finds it beneficial, and would advise its +use on all soils. Does not pasture his orchard, excepting in late fall +and early winter, when he lets the calves run in to tramp the ground, +and thinks it advisable. His trees are troubled with canker-worm, +bark-louse, and some other insects; and his fruit with codling-moth. He +sprays his trees twice before the buds open, with Bordeaux mixture and +arsenical solution, for blight; thinks he has reduced the codling-moth. +Picks his apples from the trees into sacks, and hauls in a padded wagon +box. Sorts them from tables into three classes--extra, good, and medium. +Never sells apples in the orchard; wholesales, retails and peddles them. +His best market is at home, but he has not enough to fill it. Does not +dry any. Is successful in keeping a few apples for winter market in +barrels and boxes in a cellar, as near air-tight as possible. They keep +well until May 25, and he does not find it necessary to repack stored +apples before marketing. He does not irrigate. Prices have been: +Wholesale, 60 cents to $1.20 per bushel; retail, 80 cents, $1.40 to +$1.60 per bushel. He employs good help at one dollar per day and board. + + * * * * * + +F. F. HANSBERRY, Larned, Pawnee county: Have resided in Kansas +twenty-three years. Have 1400 apple trees nine years planted. For +market, Ben Davis, Winesap, Red Edgar (?), Haas, and for family orchard +Ben Davis, Winesap, Maiden's Blush, and Whitney (crab) No. 20. I have +discarded the Missouri Pippin, as the tree is too short-lived. I prefer +second bottom, with sandy soil and clay subsoil; always choose north or +northeast aspect. I always plant good one-year-old trees, twenty by +thirty feet apart, putting Missouri Pippins between the wide way, to be +cut out later on. I grow and graft all my trees. Cultivate with a disc +cultivator until the trees come into full bearing; after that every +second year. I grow no crop in the orchard. I believe windbreaks are +essential on south side; I think mulberry trees best, and would plant a +double row two feet apart, in rows four feet apart, the nearest row +forty feet away from apple trees. I shoot and trap the rabbits. I only +prune enough to keep the tree well balanced. I often thin Winesaps on +the tree because I think they need it, and it pays. I believe in mixed +plantings, and therefore plant Ben Davis among all the others. I spread +stable litter among my trees after they come into bearing; sandy soil, I +think, requires the most fertilizer. I pasture in a small way, putting +my little calves in, in the spring. Am only bothered with a few +codling-moth and flat-headed borers. I do not spray, but I make way with +all the fallen fruit. I hunt borers and kill with a wire. Pick by hand +as soon as well colored; sort into two classes; the best is first, and +all sound smaller fruit second. We pack in barrels by hand, marking with +the variety and class. We sell ours all at home; usually they are +engaged before they are picked. Our second grade we keep at home; culls +are made into cider. Our apples are sold in Dodge City and Larned. Have +never shipped any; have never dried any. I store some second grade in +barrels and bulk in the cellar, and find that Missouri Pippins, Ben +Davis, and Winesaps keep the best, and I do not lose over three per +cent. Some seasons I irrigate, with windmills. Prices vary from 75 cents +to $1.25 per bushel. + + * * * * * + +L. G. MORGAN, Richfield, Morton county: I have lived in Kansas +forty-three years; have an apple orchard of 125 trees, medium size, ten +years old. For all purposes I prefer Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and +Maiden's Blush. I prefer black loam bottom, with clay subsoil, northern +slope. I plant two-year-old trees with small tops, well rooted, in +large holes, and filled in with well-worked soil. I cultivate my orchard +to vines, using a stirring plow and hoe, and cease cropping after six +years, but keep cultivating, and plant nothing in a bearing orchard. +Windbreaks are essential; would make them of forest-trees planted in +hit-and-miss rows around the orchard. Am not troubled with rabbits and +borers. I prune with a saw and knife to give shape; think it beneficial. +I thin apples on the trees as soon as large enough. My trees are in +mixed plantings; Maiden's Blush are surrounded by Pippins and Rambos. I +think they are more fruitful. I do not fertilize. I pasture my orchard +with chickens and turkeys; I think it advisable, to keep out bugs. Trees +are troubled with tent-caterpillar. I pick my apples by hand into +baskets from step-ladders, and sort into three classes, choice, common, +and culls, while gathering. I pack in barrels, placing a layer in the +bottom, mark with paint, and haul to market on a wagon. I sell apples in +the orchard, also retail to merchants; make cider of culls. Richfield is +my best market. Do not dry any. Am successful in storing apples for +winter in boxes and barrels in cellar; find Missouri Pippin and Winesap +keep best. Lose about two per cent. of the stored apples. I irrigate my +trees direct from a well, in ditches running close to the trees. Price +has been one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +E. MORGAN, Hutchinson, Reno county: I have lived in Kansas seventeen +years; have sixty acres of apples, from four to sixteen years old. For +commercial orchard I prefer Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, and Winesap; and +for family orchard Early Harvest, Cooper's Early White, Maiden's Blush, +Jonathan, and Grimes's Golden Pippin. Have tried and discarded Snow and +Early Pennock on account of blight. I prefer river bottom with a clay +subsoil. I plant two-year-old, large, thrifty trees, at the crossings of +furrows made with a lister, twenty by thirty feet. I cultivate for the +first four years to corn and garden-truck, using a Planet jr. +cultivator, then use a one-horse plow for two years, and cease cropping +when bearing begins heavily, and plant nothing. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of one row of Osage orange, on the west side +of orchard. For rabbits I use tree paint and wood veneers. I prune my +trees in the winter, to produce health and give good form; think it +beneficial, and that it pays. I do not thin my fruit while on the trees, +but think it would pay. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; think +it beneficial; would advise its use on sandy land. My trees are troubled +with flathead borer, and my fruit with codling-moth and curculio. I do +not spray. I pick my apples from ladders; pile those taken from eight +trees together and cover with hay. Sort into three classes: First, sound +and large; second, sound and small; third, spotted. I sell apples in the +orchard, also wholesale and retail; pack my best in bushel boxes and +sell to grocers. Sell my second and third grades to peddlers and farmers +from the west. My best market is at home. Have tried distant markets and +found they paid. Am successful in storing apples in bulk in a bank +cellar, Winesap and Missouri Pippin keeping the best. Do not irrigate. +Good apples sold here this winter for one dollar per bushel. I employ +farm hands at farm wages. + + * * * * * + +C. H. LONGSTRETH, Lakin, Kearny county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-nine +years. I have 3400 apple trees--500 eleven years old, 1200 eight years +old, 700 six years old, and 1000 set this spring. For market I prefer +Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap. For family use I would advise +Early Harvest, Red June, Maiden's Blush, Chenango Strawberry, Smith's +Cider, Huntsman's Favorite, Rome Beauty, Jonathan, Ben Davis, Winesap, +and Missouri Pippin. Have discarded the Red Astrachan, Willow Twig, and +Cooper's Early White, as they will not bear. I prefer second bottom, +not too high or too low; sandy loam, with loose clay subsoil; any slope +is good, north preferred. I prefer small-sized, well rooted, +two-year-old trees, planted with a spade, in deeply plowed, thoroughly +prepared ground, and would cultivate until they die of old age. I use a +sixteen-inch disc, Acme harrow, Thomas's smoothing harrow, and Barnes's +weeder. I grow small fruit and vegetables among the trees until of +bearing age. Would plant windbreaks of six or eight rows of North +Carolina poplars, honey and black locust, Russian mulberry, white ash, +and box-elder, one-year seedlings, two feet apart, in rows four feet +apart, on the north and south side of orchard. For rabbits, I wrap my +trees as soon as possible after planting. I prune with a knife to admit +sun and air, and to keep down suckers and limbs that rub each other. I +thin all through the season, taking out imperfect fruit as far as +possible, and it pays. I don't think it necessary to mix varieties to +insure fruitfulness, yet this spring I planted 1000 Missouri Pippins, +filling every sixth row with Winesaps for a test. The varieties I have +discarded as not bearing were thoroughly mixed in with other kinds. I +would use no fertilizers unless on very thin soil, and then would prefer +to use before planting. I use fertilizers after the trees come into +bearing, but up to bearing age good, thorough cultivation in the early +part of the season is all that I would give. I do not pasture orchards; +it might be advisable to turn hogs in to eat up windfalls affected with +codling-moth, but never any other stock. + +Am troubled only with root aphis, codling-moth, and curculio. I spray +right after the blossoms fall with London purple, for codling-moth, and +have reduced them to a great extent. Have prevented borers by wrapping. +I contemplate using kerosene emulsion on curculio and insects that I +cannot reach with poison. I pick in canvas lined half-bushel baskets, +and sort into firsts, seconds, and culls, carefully, by hand. I pack in +boxes, if I can get them; have used barrels well shaken and pressed +down, marked with stencil, and shipped by rail. Denver has been our best +market thus far; sometimes I have sold most of my apples in the orchard; +never have to peddle any. I feed the culls to my hogs. Never dry any, +but think I will try it in the near future, as there is a good home +market for a large part of them. Have stored a good many in cellar in +barrels and in bulk; some I have buried. I don't like either plan, and +am figuring to put up some kind of cold-storage building for future use. +Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Ben Davis, in the order named, have kept +best for me, my losses being about one-fifth. I irrigate by flooding the +ground all over thoroughly when necessary. Prices have ranged from 75 +cents to $1.25 per bushel; from $2.50 to $3 per barrel. I use the best +men I can get, and pay $1 a day and board, or $1.50 per day without +board. + + * * * * * + +A. W. SWITZER, Hutchinson, Reno county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-six +years; have 2000 apple trees twelve, fifteen and eighteen years old. +Winesap, Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis for market purposes; Maiden's +Blush, Rambo and Roman Stem added for family use. Have discarded Limber +Twig and Willow Twig, both subject to blight. I prefer bottom land, +sandy loam soil, and sandy subsoil; north slope is best. Plant +two-year-old, low-headed trees, in holes large enough to receive all the +roots without crowding, one inch deeper than in the nursery. Plant to +corn until five or six years of age; then nothing. Plow and cultivate +both ways to kill the weeds. I believe windbreaks are a necessity, and +should be made of trees planted two or three rods wide, four feet apart, +on the south side. Wrap the trees with straw or hay to protect from +rabbits and borers. I prune with a saw to thin out where too thick, and +to keep down the watersprouts; it certainly pays. I use stable litter +and old hay in the orchard for fertilizer. Do not think it pays or is +advisable to pasture orchard. I spray when the bloom begins to fall, +three times for codling-moth, with London purple and Paris green, and I +am satisfied I have reduced them. For the borer I use a knife and a +wire. I pick in baskets, and pile in long rows in the orchard. I sort +into two classes, and sell the best in the orchard to men who haul them +west. The culls go for cider. I do not irrigate, and I do not dry or +store any apples. Prices have varied from twenty-five cents to one +dollar per bushel. I use common farm labor at fifteen to eighteen +dollars per month. + + * * * * * + +J. C. CURRAN, Curran, Harper county. I have lived in Kansas fifteen +years. Have fifty apple trees eleven years old. For commercial orchard I +prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and York Imperial, and for +family orchard add some summer and fall varieties. Have tried and +discarded Rawle's Janet, on account of slow growth. Bellflower is a fall +apple here; and Jonathan is too small. I prefer bottom land, sandy loam, +subirrigated, water at six feet. I prefer good two-year-old trees, head +twenty-eight inches from the ground, planted in spring, after March +winds. I cultivate my orchard all the time with a disc drawn by four +horses. I plant no crop. Have some weeds and rabbits. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of mulberries planted not closer than forty +feet to the first row of trees; would buy the mulberry sprouts from the +nursery. I keep the rabbits down with dogs and shot-guns; dig borers +out. I never thin my apples; the wind does it for me. I fertilize my +orchard with barn-yard litter, but think it injurious to the trees. Do +not pasture my orchard. Trees are troubled with canker-worm and +tent-caterpillar, and fruit with curculio. I do not spray. Pick apples +by hand. Never dry apples; it does not pay. Do not irrigate. Prices have +been fifty cents per bushel in the fall, and one dollar per bushel in +the winter. + + * * * * * + +JOHN H. GOSCH, Norwich, Kingman county: I have lived in Kansas twenty +years. Have an apple orchard of 100 trees eighteen years old. I prefer a +bottom having dark soil. I plant two-year-old trees in large holes, well +watered. I cultivate my orchard shallow, and mulch, using a disc. Never +plant anything among the trees. Windbreaks are essential; would make +them of two or three rows of mulberries, on the north and south sides of +the orchard. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter, but do not put +it near the trees; think it beneficial, and would advise its use on all +southwestern Kansas soil. Am not bothered with insects. Do not spray. +Apples have been one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +L. W. LEACH, Kingman, Kingman county: I have lived in Kansas twenty +years. Have an apple orchard of about 300 trees, from fourteen to +eighteen years old. Those that do the best here are Red June, Maiden's +Blush, and Cooper's Early White. + + * * * * * + +H. E. JESSEPH, Danville, Harper county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-five years; have an apple orchard of 800 trees, 100 of them but +one year old and the other 700 are fourteen years old. For market I +prefer Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, and Winesap, and for a family orchard +Grimes's Golden Pippin, Stark, and Cooper's Early White. Have tried and +discarded the Nonesuch. I prefer bottom land with a deep loam that goes +to water, with a north aspect. I prefer two-year-old trees set sixteen +feet apart. I plant my orchard to corn for about eight years, using a +disc harrow; and cease cropping at the end of that time. Windbreaks are +essential; I would make them of Osage orange, Russian mulberries, or +cottonwood, by planting all around the orchard, making it the heaviest +on the south side. For rabbits I wrap the young trees with corn-stalks, +and borers I dig out. I prune with pruning-shears and a chisel to +increase the fruit; I think it pays. I thin my fruit while on the trees +in June and July, and find it pays. My trees are in mixed plantings. I +do not fertilize my orchard, but would advise it on all soils. I do not +pasture my orchard; do not think it advisable; it does not pay. My trees +are troubled with flathead borer, and my fruit with codling-moth. I do +not spray. I hand-pick my apples in a sack, one corner of which is tied +up to the top, it has a strap eighteen inches long to put over the +shoulder; spread the top of the sack and pick with both hands. Sort my +apples into two classes: first and second. I pick the best first, +letting the inferior ones stay on the trees; I afterwards shake these +off and send to the cider mill. I sell apples in the orchard. Make cider +and vinegar of the second and third grades and culls. My best market is +at home in the orchard. Never tried distant markets. Do not dry any; +cannot find a ready market for them and it does not pay. Am successful +in storing apples for winter use in bulk, in an outside cave; find the +Little Red Romanite and Missouri Pippin keep best. I do not irrigate. +Prices have been from sixty to seventy-five cents per bushel. I employ +careful young men at one dollar per day or twenty-five dollars per +month. + + * * * * * + +SAM JONES, Springfield, Seward county: I have lived in Kansas thirteen +years. Have an apple orchard of fifty trees. I am not keeping them for +the fruit, but for the pleasure of the birds--to build nests and sing +their sweet songs in. I cultivate my orchard all the time to keep the +weeds down; plant it to vines, such as squashes, pumpkins, melons, etc. +Do not pasture my orchard. I do not know of anybody that ever irrigated. +In regard to "the Kansas Apple," in this part of the state, they are no +good. I will say there never was ten bushels of apples grown in Seward +county. I planted out two acres of apple trees ten years ago; they grew, +and looked very well. I took good care of them, but they never would +bear; and that is the experience of every one else. I cannot tell the +cause, unless it gets too dry and hot, with hot winds. [Such things were +said of the whole state of Kansas by many intelligent men thirty years +ago. Mr. Jones does not tell what varieties he tried, and his remarks +need not discourage any whose lot is cast in Seward county. While there +are only 1034 apple trees reported in the whole county, yet the low +price of trees should encourage every farmer to plant a few of the +hardier varieties, if only as an experiment.--Secretary.] + + * * * * * + +JOSEPH BAINUM, Langdon, Reno county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-five +years. Have an apple orchard of twenty trees, most of them ten years +old. For market I prefer Missouri Pippin and Winesap, and for family +would add Early Pennock and Maiden's Blush. Ben Davis would not do any +good for me. I prefer bottom or table land with a heavy subsoil and a +northern slope. I prefer two-year-old trees with low heads, set in a +ditch. I cultivate my orchard to corn as long as I can get in with a +plow; I also use a disc and harrow. I cease cropping when the trees need +all the moisture; do not plant anything in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks +are essential; would make them of mulberry trees, set thirty or forty +feet away from the orchard. For rabbits I use axle grease and sulphur +mixed. I prune, leaving the tops low, and thin out the branches so as to +give air and produce larger fruit; it has paid me. I fertilize my +orchard with stable litter but do not put it close to the trees; I think +it beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils. I have pastured my +orchard with cattle and hogs; do not think it advisable; it does not +pay. Trees are troubled with flathead borer and leaf-roller, and my +apples with codling-moth. I have sprayed, but not lately, with London +purple for codling-moth, just after the blossoms fell; it did not +pay--did not reduce the codling-moth any. I go after insects not +affected by spraying with a small wire. I pick my apples by hand in +half-bushel baskets; sort into three classes--largest and sound, second +best, and cider. I wholesale, retail, and peddle, and make the culls +into cider and vinegar. Never have tried distant markets. I dry some +with a Stutzman dryer; it is satisfactory. I pack them in cracker boxes +and find a ready market for them at times; it does not pay. Am +successful in storing apples two feet deep in bins, one above another, +in a cellar walled up with rock; never tried any excepting Missouri +Pippin and Winesap. I have to repack stored apples before marketing, +losing about five per cent. I irrigate my orchard with water pumped into +a reservoir 80x120 feet, and three feet deep. Prices have been from 50 +cents to $1.25 per bushel; dried apples, ten cents per pound. I employ +women at fifty cents per day. + + * * * * * + +A. S. DRAKE, Bucklin, Ford county: Have lived in Kansas twenty years, +and have 330 apple trees from three to eleven years old, part of them +ten inches in diameter. I prefer good keeping apples for family use. I +prefer bottom land, subirrigated, with a north and east slope. I prefer +two-year-old trees, set the same depth as they grow in the nursery. I +cultivate my orchard from three to eight years, in potatoes, with a plow +and harrow; I plant nothing in a bearing orchard, and cease cropping +when they shade the ground. Windbreaks are essential where orchards are +exposed. I would make them of forest-trees. I protect from rabbits by +wrapping with poultry wire. I dig borers out. I prune very little, just +enough to stop top growth; I think it has been beneficial. I thin my +apples when the limbs are unable to support them. I mulch only to hold +back the bloom. I do not pasture my orchard. Borers trouble my trees. My +apples are not troubled with insects. I pick my apples by hand, and put +them carefully into a basket. I sort into two classes: first, sound and +smooth; second, unsound. I do this work by hand. I pack in barrels, +pressed full. My best market is at home; we eat and cook the best, and +the culls I donate to the children. I never dry any. I store some in +barrels, and am successful. I find those I keep from the family keep +best. [?] The prevailing price has been one dollar per bushel. I employ +men by the month. + + * * * * * + +FRED MOORE, Great Bend, Barton county: I have lived in Kansas twelve +years. Have 200 apple trees from one to sixteen years old. For family +orchard I prefer Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and Maiden's Blush. I prefer +bottom land, with north slope. I cultivate every year with stirring plow +and harrow; plant nothing; think windbreaks essential, made of +forest-trees. I wrap my trees with rags to protect from rabbits. I prune +with a saw to thin the branches. I never thin apples. I fertilize with +stable litter. My trees are troubled with flathead borers. Worms trouble +my apples. I do not spray. I dig borers out with a knife, in August and +September. Price has been fifty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +W. G. OSBORNE, Medicine Lodge, Barber county: Have lived in Kansas since +1865. Have 150 apple trees, from two to fourteen years planted. I prefer +root grafts, and plant in rows twenty to twenty-five feet each way. I +cultivate in corn, using a plow. Keep rabbits down with hounds. I prune +with a knife. I fertilize with barn-yard litter. Do not spray or +irrigate. + + * * * * * + +JOSEPH LEWIS, Bluff City, Harper county: I have been in Kansas +twenty-two years; have an orchard of 1000 trees; the first were set in +1881. The varieties are Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis and Winesap for +market, and Duchess of Oldenburg, Maiden's Blush and English Rambo for +family use. I prefer bottom land, of level, sandy loam. I plant +two-year-old thrifty trees in rows two rods apart. I grow nothing in the +orchard, and never cease cultivating with a stirring plow, disc, and +harrow. I believe windbreaks are essential in this county, and would +make them of any thrifty forest-tree; Russian mulberry is good. I would +put double rows around the orchard. I prune with shears and saw to thin +the tops. I never use any fertilizer, and never allow stock in the +orchard. Am troubled some with the flat-headed borer, which I remove +with a knife. I spray with London purple just as the bloom begins to +fall. I pick by hand, and sell in the orchard and otherwise; never dried +any. I store for winter market in a cave in bulk, and am successful. The +best keepers I find are Limber Twig, Striped Vandevere, and Ben Davis. +Prices prevailing have been fifty cents per bushel; dried apples, from +five to seven cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +JOHN PIMM, Enon, Barber county: I have lived in Kansas sixteen years. +Have an apple orchard of 2250 trees from four to twelve years old. For +commercial purposes I prefer York Imperial, Ben Davis, Mammoth Black +Twig, and Nero, also Shackleford; and for family orchard Jonathan, Early +Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap. Have tried and +discarded White Winter Pearmain, Red Astrachan, and Mann. I prefer +bottom land with a northern slope. I prefer two-year-old trees planted +in a deep dead furrow. I cultivate my orchard to corn and garden-truck; +cultivate four or five times during a season, the more the better; I use +a disc; believe an orchard should always be cultivated. I cease cropping +after six or seven years, and plant nothing in a bearing orchard. +Windbreaks are essential; would make them of two rows of mulberries. For +rabbits I use wrappers of wood veneer. I prune to shape the tree and to +get rid of all surplus wood, and think it beneficial. I do not thin my +fruit on the trees; the insects and wind do it for me. I do not pasture +my orchard. My trees are troubled with flathead borer and twig-borer, +and my apples with codling-moth. I have sprayed with London purple. + + * * * * * + +L. L. LOVETTE, Toronto, Woodson county: I have lived in Kansas +thirty-two years; have an apple orchard of thirty trees twelve to twenty +years old. For market I prefer Missouri Pippin and Winesap, and for +family use would add Early Harvest and Smith's Cider. Have tried and +discarded Fall Pippin, Northern Spy, and Rambo. I prefer level prairie +land well enriched, with black limestone soil and a sandy subsoil, +northern aspect, to hold the trees back in the spring. I prefer large, +smooth trees with good roots, planted in large holes with rotten chip +manure. I cultivate my orchard to hoed crops, using a diamond plow. I +plant bearing orchard to white beans, peanuts, etc., and cease cropping +when well in bearing. Windbreaks are essential; I use soft maple four +feet apart, in four rows around the orchard. For rabbits I wrap my trees +with slough grass. I pasture my orchard with hogs, and think it +advisable. My trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar and borers, and +my apples with curculio. I sprayed once with Bordeaux mixture; have no +faith in it; I may possibly have reduced the codling-moth a little. I +now watch and burn the insects. [?] I pick my apples in a sack over the +left shoulder, from a step-ladder wide at the bottom and narrow at the +top. Sort into three classes: first take out all inferior for cider, +then put the sound ones in the barn until late in the fall, when I +sort, keeping No. 1's for spring, No. 2's for winter, and use all the +rest for cider. I sell some apples in the orchard to neighbors, and some +to grocerymen. I haul my best apples to market in a spring wagon with +hay under them. We use many culls and give some away. My best market is +at home. I dry some for market, then put them in sacks and keep in a +cool place; find a ready market for them, but it does not pay. I store +apples for winter market in a pit; am successful; find Winesap, Rawle's +Janet and Missouri Pippin keep best. We have to repack stored apples +before marketing, losing about ten per cent. of them. I water my trees +artificially. Prices have been from $1 to $1.50 per bushel. I employ +young men at one dollar per day and board. + + * * * * * + +B. F. COX, Fowler, Meade county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-one +years; have an apple orchard of 125 trees ten years old, six to ten +inches in diameter. For family orchard I prefer Early Harvest, Maiden's +Blush, Ben Davis, Gennetting, and Rawle's Janet. I prefer hill land, +with a northeast slope, having a clay subsoil. I prefer two-year-old +trees, set at crossing of furrows run both ways. I cultivate my orchard +all the time with a plow and harrow; it is too dry in this climate to +let weeds grow. Do not plant any crop. Windbreaks are essential; would +make them of African tamarix, set in three or four rows around the +orchard. For rabbits I grease lightly in the fall and wash off in the +spring. I prune my young orchard with a knife, to balance the tree +properly. I think it pays. Never have thinned the fruit while on the +trees. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard with +barn-yard litter. I think it has been beneficial, and would advise its +use on all clay soils. I do not pasture my orchard. My trees are +troubled with tent-caterpillar and roundhead borer, and my apples with +worms. I spray when in bloom, and again after blooming, with London +purple. Do not think I have reduced the codling-moth any. I pick my +apples by hand, and sort into two classes--family apples and hog apples. +Am successful in storing apples for winter use in boxes in a cellar. I +find Ben Davis and Rawle's Janet keep best. I irrigate my orchard, using +a windmill and pump with a four-inch cylinder. Prices have been from +fifty cents to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +Dr. JAMES MYERS, Hutchinson, Reno county: Have lived in Kansas +thirty-nine years. Have about 3000 apple trees eight years old, six to +eight inches in diameter; fine, large trees. For market I prefer +Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Ben Davis; for home use, Early Harvest, +Northern Spy, and Maiden's Blush. Most other varieties that are a +success in the East are a failure here. I am satisfied with a few of the +best varieties. In this county lowland is the best. I prefer a sandy +land, on a clay subsoil, and a north slope, every time. I plant two- and +three-year-old, clean, thrifty trees. I mark the ground in squares of +one rod and plant in every other crossing, mismatching to make the trees +zigzag. I will cultivate the orchard for forty years in this county if +they live so long. I would grow corn amongst them for the first three or +four years; after that, nothing; the less crop the better. I believe +windbreaks are essential in small orchards, but in large orchards the +trees will protect each other. For windbreaks I would plant maple or +mulberry, at least two rods away from the apple trees. For protection +against rabbits and borers, take lime and Portland cement, equal parts, +mix with sweet milk to the consistency of paint; add one tablespoonful +of Paris green, and apply with a brush; it will never fail. I prune +while the tree is young; then the wound does not affect them so much; it +pays, and is very necessary. I have never thinned, but think it +necessary, just before the apples are half grown. I use no fertilizer +whatever. I do not pasture my orchard much, but when I do it is with +hogs, and I think it advisable when the fruit is wormy and falling off. +I have some insects, but have never sprayed. For borers I use a knife. I +pick in baskets, just as late as possible. + + * * * * * + +J. O. EMERY, Cimarron, Gray county: Have lived in Kansas twelve years; +have 400 apple trees four years planted, of the following varieties: Ben +Davis, Missouri Pippin, Arkansas Black, Mammoth Black Twig, Rawle's +Janet, and a few Yellow Transparent. Prefer bottom land in this county; +plant only fifteen feet apart each way on account of the wind. Grow no +crop in the orchard, and cultivate every two weeks until the 1st of +August with a five-tooth cultivator. Have a double row of locusts and +Osage-orange hedge all around the orchard, and consider windbreaks a +necessity. I prune out the inside branches, leaving only four or five +limbs, so they will not grow scrubby, and think it beneficial. I plowed +under forty loads of stable litter to the acre before planting. I would +not pasture an orchard. Am troubled some with web-worm and twig-borer, +and have used a spray in June and August of concentrated lye and cold +water; also, some Paris green and London purple for worms. I irrigate my +orchard once every two weeks, from a reservoir 70x140 feet, and have +apple trees that made 4-1/2 feet of growth last year. My reservoir is +supplied by two windmills running four- and six-inch pumps. + + * * * * * + +BEN. McCULLOGH, Ellinwood, Barton county: Have been in Kansas twenty-two +years; have the biggest grove in Comanche township, Barton county, +covering twenty acres, most of it in fruit of all kinds. Have 300 apple +trees, planted from five to fourteen years, from eight to sixteen inches +in diameter; varieties, Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and Rawle's +Janet. Have discarded the Nonesuch. My orchard is second bottom, black, +sandy soil, and perfectly level. I planted two-year-old trees in rows +both ways. I grow corn and potatoes in the orchard until the trees shade +the ground pretty well, and then I grow nothing, but cultivate the +ground until they get big and old enough to go without it. I believe +windbreaks are essential in this country; mine is composed of three rows +around the orchard, of box-elder and cottonwood. I wrap my trees while +small to protect from the rabbits. Wash with lye for borers. While small +I prune out the middle of the tree with knife and saw, but let the lower +limbs grow to protect the trunk. I believe stable litter beneficial in +an orchard, and use plenty of it. I do not believe in pasturing an +orchard. I never spray. I always sell my fruit in the orchard; some +wagons come forty miles for it, and pay me from fifty to seventy-five +cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +B. LEONHART, Kiowa, Barber county: Have lived in Kansas thirteen years. +Have 300 apple trees, planted from nine to ten years. Am uncertain as to +best varieties. Plant in low ground or a "draw"; advise any loose soil, +but no clay subsoil (?); like east or northern slope. Plant fresh +one-year-old trees, in "deep subsoil trenched." Have planted root grafts +eighteen inches long, where they are now growing, and are the pride of +my orchard. Hot sun and wind make the fruit woody and sapless. Plant no +crop in orchard, but plow yearly and harrow all summer. Believe in +windbreaks made of locust or anything that will grow, planted in deep +subsoiled furrows on south and west of orchard. For rabbits I use, in +summer, lime, grass, and cow-dung, mixed. In winter I use clay with dead +rabbit pounded into it. Prune to keep limbs from rubbing, and shorten in +for bearing; not sure that either pays. Plant permanent orchard, and +fill between with early-bearing varieties like Missouri Pippin, +Jonathan, etc. [presumably to cut out afterward]. Use no fertilizers. +Never let stock run in orchard. Encourage the birds, and spray some +years with London purple and Bordeaux mixture before and after leafing +out. Think I have reduced codling-moth. Thrifty trees never contain +borers. + + * * * * * + +J. L. LIGGITT, Belpre, Edwards county: Has resided in Kansas thirty +years; has a family orchard of 125 trees, planted from three to thirteen +years, and advises Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, and Jefferis. For +commerce he recommends Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin. Prefers valley +land sloping east or west, with sandy soil and clay subsoil. Plants +sixteen feet east and west, and thirty-two feet north and south, after a +lister. Plants to corn and beans for fifteen years, lessening the number +of rows as the trees grow; uses a one-horse cultivator. Thinks a +windbreak a necessity, and would make of evergreens, if possible; next, +of box-elder, planted four feet each way after deep listing. Uses axle +grease against rabbits. Prunes sparingly for shape, and says it +certainly pays. Thinks thinning should frequently be done when trees +appear to be overloaded. Believes trees should be in mixed plantings to +produce best. Uses barn-yard litter to fertilize, and says it will pay, +if scattered over the entire surface. Believes that pasturing with hogs +is advisable, and makes the trees more productive. Has never sprayed, +and is seldom troubled with leaf-eating insects. Removes borers with a +wire or some pointed instrument twice a year. Picks from step-ladder by +hand into baskets or buckets. Makes three classes--first, perfect in +form and color; second, sound but not so regular in size; third, culls. +Packs in three-bushel barrels carefully by hand, marked with name of +variety and quality or class. Sells any way possible. Has shipped +successfully to Missouri river cities. + + * * * * * + +H. CLAY HODGSON, Little River, Rice county: Has been in the state +twenty-six years. Has an orchard of 5000 trees, planted from five to +twenty years. Uses Winesap, Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin for both +commercial and family orchard. Has tried and discarded Willow Twig, +Lawver and Smith's Cider on account of blight. Says bottom land of black +loam, with clay subsoil, is preferable in this section. Plants +two-year-old trees, in trenches made with plow and subsoiler. Cultivates +with disc and harrow, from one to twelve years, growing corn for first +five to eight years, afterward nothing. Thinks windbreaks made of +several rows of Osage orange or box-elder on south side a great help. +Prunes while young to make a more open head. Advises the use of manure +on all orchards. Does not allow stock in the orchard. As soon as the +leaves appear he sprays with London purple for canker-worms, and +believes he has reduced codling-moth by it. Picks in sacks, with corners +tied together and hung over the shoulder. Makes two classes, market and +culls. Piles his apples as picked in the orchard, and sorts out for +market from the piles, leaving the culls for cider. Sells mostly in +orchard. Best market is home towns; never shipped any. Stores some in a +cave, in bulk, for winter, and makes a success of it. Winesaps keep +best. Sold last fall (1897) at 75 cents per bushel; during winter, at $1 +to $1.25. Uses ordinary farm help at twenty dollars per month and board. + + * * * * * + +A. S. HUFF, Sharon, Barber county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-eight +years; have an apple orchard of 130 trees ten years old. For commercial +purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Large Romanite, and Missouri Pippin, and +for family orchard Missouri Pippin, Little Romanite, Limber Twig, and +Winesap. I prefer level land with sand as deep as I can get it, with +[natural] subirrigation. I use strong, thrifty trees, set in furrows +plowed as deeply as possible, and then dug out. I cultivate my young +orchard to corn with one-horse, five-tooth cultivator, as long as I can +get in the orchard, and cease cropping only when they commence bearing, +and plant nothing after that. Windbreaks are essential, and I would make +them of Russian mulberry or box-elder, set six feet apart in rows +running east and west, on the north and south sides. I protect from +rabbits by wrapping with corn-stalks, and use lye for borers. I prune +very little with a saw to keep out watersprouts, hardly enough to pay +here in Kansas. Do not thin the fruit on my trees; it thins itself. I do +not need to fertilize; would advise it on clay soil. I never pasture my +orchard; do not think it advisable, unless you wish to destroy your +trees. My trees are troubled with flathead borer, and my apples with +curculio. Never have sprayed; insects not affected by spraying I gouge +out with a wire, and apply concentrated lye in April and August. I pick +my apples from ladders set up around the trees, one with four legs made +solid, with steps on one side and a broad board on top to set baskets +on. I sort into four classes, keeping those of a uniform size separate +from the small ones. I keep my apples in an apple house. I generally +sell in the orchard; always get $1.50 for my best, packed in boxes and +sold at the nearest towns, at retail. I make cider for vinegar of the +culls. My best market is at home; never tried distant markets. Never dry +any; it does not pay. I store all I do not sell in orchard, in a cellar +12x16 feet, six feet in the ground, with earth on top; they do not +freeze. I find the Winesap, Limber Twig and Little Romanite keep best. +We do not have to repack stored apples before marketing; only lose about +one per cent. I do not irrigate. Prices have been $1.25 per bushel. I +hire no help; my own family does the work. + + * * * * * + +E. F. REEVE, Greensburg, Kiowa county: I have lived in Kansas twenty +years; I prefer Missouri Pippins for a commercial orchard. I like a +sandy bottom with a north slope. I prefer two- or three-year-old trees +having bright bark; plant them by throwing out a deep furrow, and then +making large holes in the furrow. I cultivate my orchard with a +one-horse cultivator, planting no crop, and keep the orchard clean, +never stopping cultivation. Windbreaks are essential; I would make them +of Russian mulberry or Osage orange, on the north, west and south sides +of the orchard, especially on the south. I do not prune my trees, nor +thin my apples. I do not fertilize my orchard, and would not advise it +in this section. I do not pasture my orchard. My trees are troubled with +tent-caterpillar. Have not sprayed. Sort my apples into one class, cut +out the rot, and make into apple dumplings [?]. Never sell apples in the +orchard; keep them all for home use; my best market is at home. I do not +dry any for market; they sometimes dry on the trees, the effect of hot +winds. This is not very satisfactory, and does not pay. I do not store +any for market. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from seventy-five +cents to one dollar per bushel; dried apples, eight and one-third cents +per pound. + + * * * * * + +G. W. HOLLENBACK, Coldwater, Comanche county: I have resided in the +state thirty-seven years; have an apple orchard of 200 trees from six to +nine years old, four to eight inches in diameter. For market I prefer +Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, and Winesap, and for family orchard Maiden's +Blush, Smith's Cider, and Grimes's Golden Pippin. Have tried and +discarded Rawle's Janet on account of poor quality, and Willow Twig on +account of shy bearing. I prefer a northeast slope, with sandy loam and +clay subsoil; bottom causes the trees to grow too rank. I prefer two- +or three-year-old trees with low, well-balanced tops, set thirty feet +each way. I give my orchard thorough cultivation, on account of lack of +moisture; I will continue indefinitely using a plow and corn cultivator, +and plant nothing. Windbreaks are essential; I would make them of double +row of peach trees on south side, to keep the trees in shape. I prune to +give form; I think it pays, as they would become too dense if not +pruned. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees, but think some +varieties would be better if they were. My trees are planted with each +variety in a separate row. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; +think it beneficial, but would not advise its use on all soils. I do not +pasture my orchard. Flathead borers are in my trees, but if they are +kept thrifty the borers will give little trouble. My apples are troubled +with codling-moths. I do not spray. I pick my apples by hand and sell in +bulk in the local market. I do not dry any. I am quite successful in +storing apples in pits for winter use; the Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis +and Winesap keep the best. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from $1 +to $1.25 per bushel. + + * * * * * + +J. J. ABLARD, Lawndale, Pratt county: I have lived in Kansas twelve +years. Have an apple orchard of 200 trees from three to six years old. +For family orchard I prefer Missouri Pippin, Nickajack, Winesap, and +Maiden's Blush. I prefer second bottom, sandy loam, with clay subsoil, +and an eastern or northern slope. I prefer two-year-old trees, four feet +high, branched low, planted 24x24 feet, in a furrow plowed very deeply, +north and south. I plant my orchard to corn, using a cultivator, plow, +and cutaway harrow, and cease cropping when the trees need all the +support. Windbreaks are a benefit; I would make them of white or green +ash and mulberry, by planting and cultivating three or four rows on the +south and west. For rabbits I wrap the trees with rags, long straw, or +grass. I prune just enough to balance the head; I think it pays and that +it is beneficial. My trees are in mixed plantings. I do not fertilize, +and would not advise its use. I do not pasture my orchard. My trees are +troubled with flathead borer and grasshoppers, and my apples with +codling-moth. I do not spray, and I dig the borers out. I do not dry +any. + + * * * * * + +D. E. BRADSTREET, Dighton, Lane county: I have lived in Kansas nineteen +years; have an apple orchard of 200 trees; my oldest are nine years. I +think Jonathan a good family apple; I have not discarded any. I prefer +bottom with a loam, porous subsoil, and a southern slope. I prefer +two-year-old whole-root trees, set twenty feet east and west and thirty +feet north and south. I cultivate my orchard to garden vegetables, such +as cabbage, tomatoes, etc., using a one-horse cultivator; have not +ceased cropping yet. Windbreaks are essential, and I would make them of +two rows of locusts, close together, all around, excepting on the east +side of the orchard. I prune with a saw to thin the top; I think it has +paid. I never thin fruit on the trees. My trees are in mixed plantings, +and think it best. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; it is +beneficial in keeping the weeds down, but would not advise its use on +all soils. I do not pasture my orchard. I do not spray. I never dry any +apples. Never store any. Do not irrigate. Prices have been one dollar +per bushel. Do not hire any help; myself and boys do the work. + + * * * * * + +C. L. GUNN, Heizer, Barton county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-one +years. Have an apple orchard of 110 trees, from ten to twenty-five years +old; the largest ones are fifteen inches in diameter. For market I +prefer Missouri Pippin, Maiden's Blush, and Duchess of Oldenburg, and +for family orchard Early Harvest and White Winter Pearmain. I prefer +creek bottom with a loose and porous soil and subsoil. Young trees +should not be headed too low, as the lower limbs will lay on the ground +when the tree gets older and begins to bear. I cultivate my trees until +too large, using a disc harrow. I do not plant any crop; do not think it +advisable in this dry climate. Windbreaks are essential; would make them +of forest-trees, on the north and south. I prune my trees, but have not +had enough experience to tell whether it is beneficial or not. I thin my +fruit while on the trees to prevent the limbs from breaking. I do not +fertilize; it is not needed here. I do not pasture my orchard; it is not +advisable. My apples are troubled with codling-moth and curculio. I +spray with London purple about the time the blossoms fall. I do not dry +any apples nor irrigate. Price has been seventy-five cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +JOHN SIMON, Garden City, Finney county: I have lived in the state +eighteen years; have an apple orchard of 150 trees, from two to fifteen +years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap; +and for family orchard Early Harvest, Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, and +Winesap. Have tried and discarded Russet and Willow Twig. I prefer +second bottom, sandy soil, with clay subsoil. I prefer one- or +two-year-old trees, set twenty-five to forty feet apart. I plant my +orchard to garden-truck, using a disc harrow, and cease cropping when +they begin to bear. I plant nothing in a bearing orchard, but keep up +the cultivation to keep the ground clean and loose. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of cottonwood, box-elder, and Osage orange, +putting a belt of timber around the orchard. For rabbits I wrap with +corn-stalks in the fall. I prune with knife and shears to keep the tree +in shape; I think it pays. I never have thinned the fruit while on the +tree, but think it would pay on some varieties. I fertilize my orchard +with stable litter while I am cropping the ground; but would not advise +its use unless you have plenty of water. I do not pasture my orchard; it +is not advisable, and does not pay. My trees are troubled with +twig-borer, canker-worm, and leaf-roller, and my fruit with +codling-moth. I spray when the bloom falls, and ten days later, with +London purple, for codling-moth; and I think I have reduced them. Borers +do not trouble my trees when they have plenty of water. I hand-pick my +apples; sort into three classes--first, second, and refuse. I sell some +apples in the orchard, but retail most of them to the stores; make cider +of the third grade and culls. My best market is at home. I do not dry +any. I am successful in storing apples in bulk in a cellar; find the +Missouri Pippin, Winesap and Arkansas Black keep best. I irrigate +thoroughly in the winter, early spring, and again before the fruit +begins to ripen. Prices have been from fifty cents to one dollar per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +Dr. G. BOHRER, Chase, Rice county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-five +years. Have an apple orchard of 700 trees from nineteen to twenty-two +years old. For commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis, and for family use +I add Smith's Cider, Wagener, and White Pippin. Have tried and discarded +Missouri Pippin and Winesap; they require more moisture than the others +mentioned above. I prefer a bottom, with black loam and a porous +subsoil; an eastern slope. I prefer well-grown one-year-old trees, set +thirty-four feet east and west, and twenty feet north and south. I plant +my orchard to corn for ten years, using a plow and harrow; think a disc +would be as good. I cease cropping after ten years, and plant nothing in +a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential on the south and west sides +of the orchard, and I would make them of Osage orange or box-elder, +planted ten feet apart. For rabbits I wrap the trees with slough grass +until six years old. I prune lightly, taking out the limbs which rub +each other and balancing the trees. I think it pays. I do not thin the +apples while on the tree. I do not fertilize my orchard; it is not +needed in this locality. I pasture my orchard with horses and pigs, and +think it advisable. I find it does not injure the trees. My apples are +troubled with codling-moth. I do not spray. I pick by hand for storing, +and sort into two classes, the good and the bad ones; the bad I make +cider of and feed to hogs. I generally sell my best apples in the +orchard on the trees, or any way I can. We sun-dry some apples, and find +a ready market for them. It pays. I am fairly successful in keeping +apples in bulk in a cave, and find Ben Davis and Rawle's Janet keep +best. I irrigate a few trees. Prices have been from twenty cents to one +dollar per bushel, and dried apples six to seven cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +J. T. EVERHART, Pratt, Pratt county: I have lived in the state twenty +years. For a family orchard I prefer Missouri Pippin, on sandy bottom +land, with a north slope. I plant two-year-old trees, deeply. I plant my +orchard to potatoes for five years, using a plow. Plant nothing in a +bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of rows of +Russian mulberries planted every six feet. I prune only to keep the tree +in shape. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. Cannot see any +difference whether the trees are in blocks of a kind or in mixed +plantings. I do not fertilize; would not advise its use on the soil +here. I pasture my orchard with hogs; think it advisable, and that it +pays. My trees are troubled with borers and sun-scald. I spray my trees +when in bloom, and after it has fallen, with London purple only. My best +market is at home; never have tried distant markets. I irrigate my trees +on the upland four or five months. Prices have been from 75 cents to +$1.50 per bushel. + + * * * * * + +JAMES CRAIG, Garden City, Finney county: Have been in Kansas nineteen +years. Have an orchard of 1300 trees, planted twelve years, trees +running from twelve to eighteen feet high. Cultivate up to this time +with twenty-inch disc harrow, and grow no crop. Windbreaks are essential +in this county. I would not allow stock in my orchard. I dig out the +borers, and intend to try spraying this year. I pick by hand, and sell +largely in the orchard. My best market is Garden City. I make cider and +vinegar of the culls. I have never dried any. I store in bulk for +winter, and am successful in keeping the Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and +Ben Davis. I irrigate by flooding. The average price has been about +sixty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +JOHN BAILEY, Harper, Harper county: I have resided in Kansas twenty +years. Have an apple orchard of 400 trees, set sixteen years, eight to +twelve inches in diameter. For all purposes I prefer Missouri Pippin, +Winesap, and Jonathan. Have tried and discarded Rawle's Janet, because +the fruit cracks open, Snow, because they are poor, and White Winter +Pearmain, because the tree is subject to disease. I prefer good, sandy +soil, with a northeast slope. I prefer healthy two-year-old trees, with +good roots, planted twenty-eight feet apart each way. I cultivate my +orchard every year with a cultivator and harrow, to keep the ground +loose and mellow, and plant nothing. Windbreaks are not essential. For +rabbits I wash the tree with weak lye and sulphur; have found no remedy +for borers, excepting to keep the trees healthy and growing. I prune, to +let in sun and keep the limbs from rubbing; I think it pays, and that it +has been beneficial. I thin my fruit by pulling it off when small; I +think it pays; it keeps the trees from breaking. I fertilize my orchard +with stable litter; I think it beneficial, and would advise its use on +all soils. I do not pasture my orchard; I do not think it advisable. My +trees are troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, woolly aphis, and +twig-borer, and my apples with codling-moth and curculio. I spray after +the blossoms fall, and once a week for three or four weeks after that, +with London purple, for all insects. I dig borers out with a fine wire. +I sort my apples into three classes--first, second, and cider. I sell my +apples in the orchard, wholesale, retail, and peddle. Sell the best ones +in barrels. Make cider and vinegar of the culls. My best markets are at +home and Oklahoma territory. I do not dry any. I am successful in +storing apples in bulk; find the Missouri Pippin keeps best. I do not +irrigate. Prices have been from twenty-five cents to one dollar per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +JACOB REDIGER, Maherville, Barton county: I have lived in Kansas twelve +years. Have an apple orchard of 200 trees eighteen years old. I prefer +sandy bottom land near the river, with a north slope. I cultivate my +orchard all the time with a disc and harrow, planting no crop. +Windbreaks are not essential. I prune with a saw and knife, and think it +pays. Never have thinned my apples, but if it were necessary would do it +before they begin to hang down. My trees are in mixed plantings. I mulch +my orchard with stable litter and straw; would not advise its use on all +soils. I do not pasture my orchard, but think it would be advisable, as +they would eat insects. My trees are troubled with flathead borer, and +my apples with curculio. The first of June I dig the borers out with a +penknife and cut their heads off. I pick my apples by hand. I sell +apples in the orchard at retail; feed the culls to hogs. My best market +is among the neighbors. I store apples for my own use by burying, and +find the Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis and Romanite keep best. I do not +irrigate, but ought to. Prices have been from fifty cents to one dollar +per bushel at picking time. + + * * * * * + +N. MAYRATH, Dodge, Ford county: I have lived in Kansas twenty years. +Have 250 apple trees eight to twelve years old, six to ten inches in +diameter. I prefer upland for fruit, a sandy loam, with a northern +aspect. I prefer two-year-old grafts, planted thirty by thirty feet east +and west. Have tried root grafts with success. I cultivate my orchard to +garden-truck and hoed crops, using plow in spring, then the disc or Acme +harrow. I keep the ground clear of weeds and mellow up to the middle of +July. I cease cropping after four or five years, planting nothing in a +bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential here in western Kansas, and I +would make them of Russian mulberry, in one or more rows, north and +south of the orchard. + + * * * * * + +M. M. WILSON, Zionville, Grant county: I have resided in Kansas fourteen +years; have an apple orchard of 300 trees ten years old, four to six +inches in diameter. I prefer sandy bottom land. + + * * * * * + +THOMAS E. HOCKETT, Hugoton, Stevens county: I have lived in the state +thirteen years; have an apple orchard of sixty trees eight years old, +eight to twelve feet high. I prefer dark, sandy loam. I dig large holes, +set one-year-old trees, putting top soil around the roots. I cultivate +my orchard with a stirring plow and hoe, and plant nothing; am still +cultivating. Windbreaks are essential. I would make them of two or three +rows of mulberry trees. For protection from rabbits I rub dead rabbit on +the tree, and repeat if necessary when we have much rain. I prune very +little. Do not thin the fruit while on the trees. My trees are planted +in blocks. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; think it +beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils. I do not pasture my +orchard. I do not spray; am not troubled with insects. I hand-pick my +apples. I do not dry or store any for market. I do not irrigate. + + * * * * * + +GEO. T. ELLIOTT, Great Bend, Barton county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-one years. Have an apple orchard of 800 trees from two to ten +years old, and three to seven inches in diameter. For market I prefer +Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, and Jonathan. I prefer a sandy bottom, with +a northeast aspect. I prefer three-year-old trees set twenty feet apart, +in land which has been plowed deeply and subsoiled. I cultivate my +orchard as long as I can get among the trees, with a disc that throws +dirt out first, and one that throws dirt in second. I cease cropping +after the first year; plant nothing in a bearing orchard. I have a +windbreak made of black locust and mulberries. I prune with +pruning-knife and shears to form the tops. I think it pays. I do not +thin my apples while on the trees. I believe all orchards should be set +in mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter, and think +it beneficial on sandy soil. I do not pasture my orchard; do not think +it advisable; it does not pay. My trees are troubled with flathead +borers and tent-caterpillars, and my apples with curculio. I do not +spray. I hand-pick my apples. I do not irrigate; but think a windmill +and a good pond would pay. + + * * * * * + +J. B. SCHLICHTER, Sterling, Rice county: I have lived in Kansas since +1871. For market I prefer Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Willow Twig, and +Rawle's Janet, and for a family orchard Maiden's Blush and Early +Harvest. I have tried and discarded Ben Davis because they died when +eighteen or twenty years old; they are no good here. I prefer a +northeast slope, with a sandy loam and a clay subsoil. I prefer small +two-year-old trees, set 16x24 feet, rows running north and south. I +plant my orchard to corn up to bearing age, using the plow and harrow, +and plant nothing after they begin to bear, but keep up the cultivation. +Windbreaks are essential; I would make them of two or three rows of +Russian mulberries, on the south side of the orchard. I do not prune my +trees; it does not pay. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. My +trees are in mixed plantings. I do not fertilize my orchard. I do not +pasture my orchard; it is not advisable. I do not spray. I pick my +apples by hand, the old way; sort into two classes. I dry some. + + +FRUIT DISTRICT No. 4. + +Following is the fourth district, composed of twenty-four counties in +southeast quarter of the state. Reports, or rather experiences, from +each of these counties will be found immediately following. We give +below the number of apple trees in the fourth district, as compiled from +the statistics of 1897. Many thousands were added in the spring of 1898. + + _Bearing._ _Not bearing._ _Total._ + Allen 122,015 64,449 186,464 + Anderson 111,372 46,719 158,091 + Bourbon 175,961 40,570 216,531 + Butler 182,827 53,966 236,793 + Chase 46,762 25,191 69,953 + Chautauqua 96,865 22,853 119,718 + Cherokee 238,331 92,067 330,398 + Coffey 167,255 68,247 235,502 + Cowley 172,648 50,767 223,415 + Crawford 143,089 34,798 177,887 + Elk 101,601 34,343 135,944 + Greenwood 117,840 70,224 188,064 + Harvey 85,471 30,613 116,084 + Labette 257,915 83,345 341,260 + Linn 108,654 45,285 153,939 + Lyon 161,295 116,176 277,471 + Marion 86,838 64,359 151,197 + McPherson 122,538 38,498 161,036 + Montgomery 121,282 35,572 156,854 + Neosho 159,443 61,754 221,197 + Sedgwick 182,363 74,742 257,105 + Sumner 140,613 36,961 177,574 + Wilson 139,869 47,876 187,745 + Woodson 72,815 24,485 97,300 + --------- --------- --------- + Total in district No. 4 3,315,862 1,163,660 4,479,522 + Estimated acreage 650,000 220,000 870,000 + + * * * * * + +WM. SNYDER, Towanda, Butler county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-seven +years; have an orchard of 1200 trees--200 twenty-six years old, diameter +twelve to fifteen inches, thirty feet high; 700 twelve years old, eight +to ten inches in diameter at base, twelve to fifteen feet high; 300 +eight years old, five to six inches in diameter at the ground, eight to +ten feet high. For all purposes I prefer Summer Rose, Early Harvest, +Duchess of Oldenburg, Grimes's Golden Pippin, Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, +Winesap, and Ben Davis. Bottom land is best for Ben Davis and Winesap; +other varieties named will do better on high ground. Northeast slope is +preferable; black loam with clay subsoil. I plant healthy three-year-old +trees, branching three feet from ground, in deep furrows, crossmarked +with plow; stand trees erect, and tramp earth firmly about the roots. I +cultivate my orchard five years with plow and cultivator, and grow corn +in young orchard. I cease after five years, and grow nothing in bearing +orchard. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of peach, Russian +mulberry, or cedar, by planting several rows on south of orchard. For +rabbits, fence with two-foot poultry netting; for borers, whitewash and +cultivate. I prune just a little with saw or shears to remove +interlocking branches only; it pays. Never have thinned my fruit; +believe it does not pay. Can distinguish no difference whether trees are +in blocks of one kind or mixed plantings. I do not fertilize my orchard. +Stable litter would, I think, benefit thin soil. I do not pasture my +orchard; it is not advisable, and does not pay. + +My apple trees are troubled with canker-worm, root aphis, and fall +web-worm. Have sprayed for fifteen years, for canker-worm and +codling-moth. Have used London purple and arsenate of lime. I spray for +canker-worm as soon as they hatch and the buds begin to open, and again +before bloom opens; for codling-moth, at time the bloom drops. I have +reduced the codling-moth very much. I pick my apples by hand, from a +ladder, into baskets, and sort into two classes usually; first class, +for market, picked by hand; second class, for cider, shaken off. Have +never used packages of any kind. Usually deliver in wagon. I sell apples +in the orchard, wholesale and retail. Sell best to my neighbors, in +orchard. Second and third grades I sell cheap and convert into cider and +vinegar. The culls I feed to cattle and hogs. My best market is in the +orchard and at Wichita; never have tried distant markets. Never dry any. +Sometimes I store apples for winter market in a cellar, but prefer a +cave; store in boxes and bulk. Am fairly successful; have apples in +cellar at this time (May 1), Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Ben Davis, and +Grimes's Golden Pippin, in the order named. Never have tried artificial +cold storage; have to repack stored apples, if late, losing from ten to +fifteen per cent. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from 50 cents to +$1.50 per bushel. I employ the best help I can get, and pay seventy-five +cents per day and board. + + * * * * * + +R. O. GRAHAM, Altoona, Wilson county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years. Have an apple orchard of forty trees from five to +eight years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Willow +Twig, Rawle's Janet, and Grimes's Golden Pippin; and for family orchard +I would add Maiden's Blush, Red Astrachan, and Red June. I have tried +and discarded Belleflower, Limber Twig, and King of Tompkins County; +they are no good. I prefer a clay bottom, with a north or northeast +slope. I prefer two-year-old, round-top trees, with whole roots, set in +dug holes, in the fall or spring, as deeply as they stood in the +nursery. I cultivate my orchard five to eight years, with a hoed crop, +or just keep the ground clean, and sow oats and sometimes red clover in +a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; I would make them of Osage +orange. I prune to give shape, and to keep limbs from crossing; I think +it beneficial, and that it pays. I seldom thin my fruit while on the +trees; I pick them off when the size of walnuts. My trees are in mixed +plantings. I fertilize my orchard with well-rotted stable litter; put it +between the rows; it has proven very beneficial; I would advise it on +all soils, but less of it on bottom land. I never pasture my orchard, +excepting with pigs, to eat the oats or clover, which I think advisable, +and that it pays. + +My trees are troubled with bark-louse, twig-borer, web-worm, +tent-caterpillar, and canker-worm, and my apples with codling-moth and +curculio. I spray my trees while in bloom, and two or three times +afterward, with London purple and some Paris green; have greatly reduced +the codling-moth. For rabbits I wrap the trees with corn-stalks and tie +with a string. Borers I dig out, and then with a goose-quill or a spray +nozzle I blow insecticides into the hole. I pick my apples by hand into +sacks or pails from a step-ladder; sort into three classes; pack very +closely into two and one-half bushel barrels, and mark with variety and +grade; haul to market on wagon. I have sold apples in the orchard; I +dispose of them any way I can; I feed culls to the hogs. My best markets +are Kansas City, Denver, and Western points; have tried distant +markets, and found it paid; but better sell at home. I do not dry many +apples; it does not pay for good apples. I am fairly successful in +storing apples in boxes, barrels and bulk in a cellar. I find Ben Davis, +Jonathan and Rawle's Janet keep best. Never tried artificial cold +storage. I have to repack stored apples before marketing, losing about +ten per cent. of them. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from 75 cents +to $1.25 per bushel for winter apples. I employ men at one dollar per +day. + + * * * * * + +FRED. WAHLENMAIER, Arkansas City, Cowley county: I have resided in the +state thirty-five years. Have an apple orchard of five acres, +twenty-four years old. I prefer Maiden's Blush for a family orchard. I +prefer a sandy loam, hilltop, with a north slope. I prefer two-year-old +trees, planted thirty feet apart. I plant my young orchard to corn, and +plant nothing in a bearing orchard. I prune my trees, to produce better +and more fruit. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. I fertilize +my orchard with stable litter. I pasture my orchard with calves. My +trees are troubled with canker-worms and roundhead borers. I sprayed +last year for canker-worms, with coal-oil and water, when the leaves +were coming out. I wholesale my apples. Make cider of the culls. My best +market is Arkansas City. We sun-dry some apples for our own use. I have +stored some apples in the cellar; never have tried artificial cold +storage. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from twenty-five to sixty +cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +C. R. DAVIDSON, Yates Center, Woodson county: I have lived in Kansas +fifteen years; have an apple orchard with trees from five to twenty +years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, +Winesap, and Maiden's Blush, and for family orchard add Early Harvest. +Have tried and discarded Yellow Bellflower; it will not bear. I prefer +bottom land with a northern slope which has a black loam. I prefer two- +or three-year-old trees, set in rows thirty feet east and west, and +sixteen feet north and south. I plant my orchard with corn four or five +years, using a cultivator, and cease cropping after six or eight years; +Kafir-corn does well in a bearing orchard. For rabbits I think wire +screening is best. I prune my trees to let in air; think it beneficial, +and that it pays. Do not thin the fruit while on the trees. I fertilize +my orchard with stable litter; it strengthens and invigorates the trees; +would advise its use on all soils unless very rich. I pasture my orchard +with calves, because they do not hurt the trees; I think it advisable, +and that it pays. My trees are troubled with web-worm, and my apples +with curculio. I spray with London purple, one tablespoonful to two +gallons of water, to destroy the curculio. I think I have reduced the +codling-moth. For borers I use ashes; throw them around the tree, or +make a lye of them, and wash the tree and throw some around the roots. I +pick my apples from a ladder into baskets. + + * * * * * + +G. K. AYERS, Furley, Sedgwick county: I have lived in the state +twenty-seven years. Have an apple orchard of 300 trees, twenty-one years +planted, eight to fourteen inches in diameter. For commercial orchard I +prefer Ben Davis, Jonathan, Rome Beauty, and Winesap, and for family +orchard Sweet June, Duchess of Oldenburg, Maiden's Blush, Baldwin, +Grimes's Golden Pippin, Jonathan, Rome Beauty, and Winesap. Have tried +and discarded Red Astrachan and Rambo for unproductiveness; White Winter +Pearmain as unproductive, short-lived, and a poor seller. I prefer for +an apple orchard the best corn land, in a bottom. I prefer two-year-old +trees, with good roots not mangled, set in squares thirty feet each way. +I cultivate my orchard to corn or vines, using a plow, harrow and +cultivator eight or ten years in the orchard, and cease cropping after +ten years. I plant a bearing orchard to orchard-grass and timothy +(blue-grass is injurious). Windbreaks would be an advantage on the south +and west; would make them of live trees; plant Osage orange next to +orchard and forest-trees outside of it. For rabbits I wrap the young +trees; also shoot and trap them, especially the jacks. + +I prune very cautiously, and mostly on the north side, using a saw and +knife, to give symmetry and keep limbs from crowding; I think it +beneficial. I fertilize portions of my orchard with stable litter; would +not advise it on all soils, as I think an orchard can be overstimulated. +I have pastured the orchard with calves and hogs, but do not now; it +does not pay; do not think it advisable. My trees are troubled with +canker-worm, flathead borer, and fall web-worm, and my apples with +codling-moth and curculio. I spray April 15 and May 10, on later date, +with London purple, for insects. Think I have reduced the codling-moth. +For insects not affected by spraying, I keep the tree in a healthy +condition. Pick my apples by hand; sort into three classes--market, +cooking, and cider. I sell apples in the orchard, wholesale, retail, or +peddle; sell the best apples in the orchard or to dealers; peddle the +second and third grades; make cider of the culls. I find the nearest +markets to be the best; never have tried distant markets. Do not dry +any. Do not store any, but think I shall. Do not irrigate, but would if +I had the water. Prices have been fifty cents to one dollar per bushel +for best winter apples. + + * * * * * + +H. A. CONDRA, Longton, Elk county: I have resided in Kansas twenty-one +years; have an apple orchard of seventy-five trees, twenty years old, +ten to sixteen inches in diameter, twenty to twenty-five feet high. I +have thirty more which are but two years old. For market I prefer Ben +Davis, Winesap, Jonathan, and Missouri Pippin; and for family orchard +Red Astrachan, Maiden's Blush, Rawle's Janet, Missouri Pippin, and +Winesap. I prefer a bottom which has a rich loam, with a gravel subsoil +and a north or east slope. I prefer two-year-old trees having but two +limbs, both starting from the same place, set in holes four to six feet +in diameter, two feet deep, filled in with good dirt. I cultivate my +orchard to corn--so as to keep weeds down and hold moisture--use a disc +harrow and cultivator so as to keep the soil loose and fine two or three +inches down. I cease cropping after eight or ten years, and plant +nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are not essential. For rabbits +I use tin from the roofs of burned buildings or building paper. I prune +with a saw and an ax to thin the tops and keep the limbs above my head; +think it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. My trees are +planted in blocks [of same kind]. I fertilize my orchard with any +well-rotted manure; I think it beneficial, and would advise its use on +all soils, especially on old orchards. I do not pasture my orchard; do +not think it advisable; it does not pay. + +My trees are troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, leaf-roller, +and leaf-crumpler, and my apples with codling-moth. I spray when the +leaves first come out, when in blossom, and once or twice afterwards, +ten days apart, with London purple and Bordeaux mixture for codling-moth +and leaf-eating worms. Think I have reduced the codling-moth some. I +stand on a step ladder and pick my apples by hand in a small basket, +then pour them into a wagon. I sort into three classes--sound, +blemished, and rotten. Sound ones are put in crates, blemished are made +into cider, and the rotten ones go to the hogs. I pack in crates, for +convenience, and then store in the cellar. They are made of lath and +1x12 boxing lumber. The lath are sawed across in the middle, the lumber +into lengths of fourteen inches. The bottom and sides are lath one-half +inch apart. This makes an airy crate, easy to handle, two feet long, +fourteen inches wide and twelve inches deep, which when rounded up will +hold one and one-half bushels of apples. I sell apples in the orchard; +also retail and peddle. My best apples are usually sold in the orchard. +Of the second and third grades we make cider, apple-butter, and vinegar. +The hogs get the culls. My best market is at home. I do not dry; cannot +find a ready market, and it does not pay. + +I am successful in storing apples in crates in a cellar which has a +wareroom overhead; the walls are of sandstone two feet thick, with six +inches of dry sand between the ceiling of the cellar and the floor of +the wareroom. A door is in the south end, and a window in the north, +with screens so the outside shutter is open all the time except at +noonday sun, and when raining or freezing. There is an air-shaft through +ceiling to roof. The racks or shelves are made of 1x4 lumber, and there +is one inch of space between the crates when slipped in, thus allowing +the air to circulate around them. I have apples in the cellar now (April +25) while my neighbors who stored in bulk have none fit to eat; all are +rotten. I find Rawle's Janet and Winesap keep best. I have to repack +stored apples before marketing, losing about one-tenth of them. I do not +irrigate. Prices have averaged thirty-five cents per bushel. Dried +apples have been four cents for sun-dried and eight cents for +evaporated. + + * * * * * + +T. H. GUEST, Grafton, Chautauqua county: I have lived in this county +twenty years. Have an apple orchard of 3000 trees ten years old. For +market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, White Winter Pearmain, and +Little Romanite; and for family orchard Red June, Ben Davis, Missouri +Pippin, Jonathan, Early Harvest, and Grimes's Golden Pippin. Have tried +and discarded Bellflower and Willow Twig on account of blight. I prefer +bottom land, with a black, sandy loam, clay subsoil, and northern +aspect. I prefer one-year-old trees--switches--planted with a lister. I +cultivate my orchard to corn eight years, then use a disc harrow, +running both ways, keeping a dust mulch; I cease cropping at bearing age +and plant nothing. Never put alfalfa in an orchard. Windbreaks are not +essential here. For rabbits I use lath and woven wire, and concentrated +lye for borers. I prune with a saw and shears, to increase the size and +color of the fruit; I think it beneficial, and that it pays. I never +thin the fruit while on the trees, but believe it would pay. My trees +are in mixed plantings; I have Gilpin or Little Romanite growing beside +Missouri Pippins; they blossom the same time. At picking time in the +fall I have noticed a very marked difference in the Gilpin, it having +the peculiarities of the Missouri Pippin: the increase in size, with the +white specks and oblong shape peculiar to the Missouri Pippin. I also +noticed a difference in the Romanite for two rows in; I tried keeping +some of them until spring; some were quite mellow, and the flavor was +much superior to that of the Romanites not near the Missouri Pippins. I +fertilize my orchard with stable litter, but would not advise its use on +heavy soils. Do not pasture my orchard; it is not advisable, and does +not pay. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, root +aphis, flathead borer, fall web-worm, and leaf-roller; and my apples +with codling-moth, curculio, and gouger. I spray successfully when the +fruit buds appear in the spring, with Paris green, London purple and +Bordeaux mixture for canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, and curculio. I +hand-pick my apples in sacks and baskets from step-ladders, and sort +into two classes--first and second--as we pick them; put them into two +different vessels, and let the culls drop. I pack my apples in +two-bushel packages, with blossom end down, mark with the grower's and +consignee's names, and haul to market on a heavy truck. I sell some +apples in the orchard to buyers from the territory. I make cider and +vinegar of the culls, but do not dry, store nor irrigate any. Prices +have been from twenty-five cents to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +G. W. RHODES, Lowe, Chautauqua county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-two +years. Have an orchard of 500 apple trees from five to twenty years old. +For market I prefer Ben Davis and Jonathan, and for family orchard Ben +Davis, Ortley, Maiden's Blush, and Grimes's Golden Pippin. Have tried +and discarded Lawver, King and Baldwin on account of shy bearing. I +prefer hilltop, with deep loam, limestone soil, and clay subsoil, with +northeast slope. I prefer straight one-year-old trees, with plenty of +roots, set in squares of twenty-five feet. I cultivate my orchard to +corn or potatoes while the trees are small, using a plow and cultivator, +and cease cropping after ten years; plant nothing in a bearing orchard. +Windbreaks are not essential, but would be beneficial; would make them +of evergreens. For borers I wash the trunks of small trees with carbolic +acid and strong soap-suds. I prune to thin the tops, so I can get in to +gather the apples; it pays. I have thinned the fruit while on the trees, +but not lately; haven't time; but think it pays. My trees are planted in +rows, each variety by itself. I fertilize my orchard with barn-yard +litter while I am cultivating; when the trees get larger I mow the grass +and weeds and let lay as a mulch, and afterwards as a manure; this is +all needed. Never have pastured the orchard, but think hogs with rings +in their noses would be a benefit. My apples are troubled with +codling-moth. I spray after the blossom falls with arsenates, for all +kinds of insects that come early, especially the codling-moth; think I +have reduced them. I pick my apples by hand from a ladder, bench, or get +into the tree. We sort into two grades, large and small; sell them in +the orchard to people from the west and Oklahoma, who haul them off in +wagons. We have a great many dried apples, dried by the neighbors on +shares; we find a ready market for them. I am quite successful in +storing apples in bulk in a cave arched over with stone. Ben Davis, +Winesap and Missouri Pippin keep best. Prices have been from twenty-five +to sixty cents per bushel in the fall, and from $1 to $1.50 in the +winter. + + * * * * * + +JASON HELMICK, Cloverdale, Chautauqua county: Has lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years. For all commercial purposes he prefers Missouri +Pippin and Winesap, and adds a few summer and fall varieties for family +use. Has tried and discarded Bellflower, because the fruit drops off, +and Ben Davis, because it cannot stand heat and drought--the trees decay +early. He prefers north or northeast slope, bottom land, with a deep, +porous soil, the more porous the better. He pastures his orchard with +horses, cattle, and hogs, and thinks it advisable if done with care; it +pays. His trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar, flat-headed borer, +and leaf-roller, which do little damage. His greatest drawback is +drought and heat. He does not spray, and cuts borers out in August or +earlier, and kills the caterpillars. Picks his apples by hand. Never +sells them in the orchard; raises mostly for home use. Stores some in +boxes in a cellar. Does not irrigate. Marketable apples usually sell for +twenty-five cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +J. W. GOODELL, Sedan, Chautauqua county: Have lived in Kansas fifteen +years; have an orchard of 200 trees, which are nine years old. For a +commercial orchard I would plant Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri +Pippin; and for a family orchard would add Early Harvest. Have tried and +discarded Lowell and Yellow Bellflower as too tender for the climate. I +prefer bottom land having a black, sandy loam, and a northern slope, +and plant one-year-old trees, thirty by thirty feet. I cultivate with a +disc, and am still cultivating, growing corn in the orchard for nine or +ten years. Windbreaks are essential. I would make them of natural oak if +possible. For borers and rabbits I use concentrated lye and lath +jackets. I prune my trees with a saw and shears, and think it pays and +is beneficial. I never thin apples while on the trees, and have never +fertilized. Do not pasture my orchard. My trees are troubled with +canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, root aphis, fall web-worm, and +leaf-roller, and my apples with codling-moth and gouger. I spray for +canker-worm and all other insects before and after the foliage appears, +and think I have reduced the codling-moth. I dig the borers out with a +wire and wash the tree with lye. Pick my apples into baskets, and sort +into firsts, seconds, and culls. I sell in the orchard, and make cider +of the culls. Do not dry any. I store some for winter market in a cave. +Do not irrigate. Prices have been from forty cents to one dollar per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +A. D. CHAMBERS, Hartford, Lyon county: Have been in Kansas thirty-two +years. Have 3500 apple trees; 1500 of them have been planted twenty-five +years; 2000 of them six years. I prefer for market Ben Davis, Missouri +Pippin, and Winesap, and for family orchard would add Early Harvest, Red +Astrachan, Maiden's Blush, and Rambo. Have discarded Yellow Bellflower +because it won't bear; Milam, because it is too small; Rawle's Janet, +off on color. Only a few varieties should be in a commercial orchard. I +prefer bottom land; mine slopes to the north. Any soil is good, either +clay or loam. I would set thrifty two-year-old trees in furrows. I have +raised thousands of root grafts in the nursery, growing my own seedlings +to graft on. I cultivate in corn until they begin to show fruit, then in +millet twice; I have never cultivated the orchard without a crop. When +the ground gets bad, break it up and put in millet to shade the ground. +I have never used any windbreaks; plant my trees close, to protect each +other from the wind. I use axle grease for rabbits, and have had very +little trouble with borers. I prune in the early years to shape the +tree; later, to remove surplus wood, and think it increases the size of +the apple. I believe stable litter is beneficial; I have applied it only +on heavy clay soil. I pasture my orchard to a slight extent with horses +and cows. I do not gather the down apples, but let my stock gather them. +I have sprayed with London purple for canker-worm and tent-caterpillar; +I use a barrel and a wagon, from first of May on, and am only partially +successful; I think I have reduced the codling-moth some. I pick with +baskets and wagons, and pile the apples in the orchard. I sort into +three classes--first, shipping; third, culls; second, betweens. As I +sell to shippers at wholesale, I put in the first class as small ones as +the contract will allow; the second class includes all that look +salable, and I sell them in the home markets; I sell what culls I can, +and make cider of the others. I do not ship any. My apples mostly go +south. I tried shipping once, but it did not pay. I do not dry any, nor +store any for winter. Have never irrigated. Prices vary from 20 cents to +$1.25 per bushel, according to variety, time of year, etc. I use men and +women for picking, and pay three cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +B. RONEY, Benedict, Wilson county: Have lived in Kansas since the fall +of 1869; have 1400 apple trees, planted from six to twenty-seven years. +For market I prefer Baldwin, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, Ben +Davis; for family, Red June, Maiden's Blush, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, and +Jonathan. I have discarded the Russets (the fruit is inferior), and +Bellflower (the trees are not hardy). I prefer north-slope upland with +deep limestone soil and clay subsoil. I plant thrifty three-year-old, +not overgrown trees with good heads, thirty feet east and west, twenty +feet north and south, to protect from the wind. I set in the spring, in +a rye-field or stubble ground, running out furrows and putting in with a +spade. I cultivate with a small stirring plow with one horse, for the +furrows next the tree. I grow corn until the trees should bear, and then +change to red clover, and mow to keep the weeds down. I believe +windbreaks are essential, but care should be taken not to have many +soft-wood trees near the orchard to breed insects. An elevation on the +south or southwest will be found beneficial. For rabbits, wrap in the +winter; for borers, wash with lime in the spring. Keep out all +watersprouts; thin the top of the tree, so that the sun may penetrate; +balance the top; cut out the center shoot--it pays. After trees begin to +bear I would fertilize with stable litter. Hogs are good in the orchard +in the spring to destroy insects, but should not be allowed to root +much. I spray with London purple and Paris green when in full bloom [how +about bees?], and again in ten days, and give a third spray a few days +after, if any insects are on the trees. We have a good home market. For +winter I find that Rawle's Janet and Romanite keep the best. Prices have +ranged from forty to seventy-five cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +GEO. HILDRETH, Altamont, Labette county: Have lived in Kansas +twenty-nine years; have an orchard of 1225 trees, from ten to +twenty-seven years old. For commercial orchard prefer Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin and Jonathan for winter, and Early Harvest and Red June +for summer; for family use I prefer Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, +Rambo, Missouri Pippin, and Jonathan. Have tried and discarded Golden +Russet and many others. I prefer a porous or well-drained soil, north by +northeast slope; it is too hot in bottom, and too dry on hilltop. I +plant two-year-old trees in rows running north and south, trees twelve +to sixteen feet apart in the row; have grown very few seedlings. I +cultivate with corn while young, and rye or wheat and keep it pastured +down when bearing. I plow between rows once in fore part of July. I have +a tall hedge for windbreak. I prune to keep the top balanced, and do not +allow it to get too thick; I think it has been beneficial. Have never +thinned apples on the trees. My trees are in mixed plantings, the +varieties are Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, and others. I fertilize +sometimes, I think it beneficial and would advise it on poor land. I +pasture my orchard with hogs and sheep, and think it advisable; it pays. +Have some insects but not in great quantity. I spray with London purple +after the bloom falls off--one pound of London purple in from 50 to 100 +gallons of water. Think I have reduced the number of codling-moth. In +picking I use a sack swung over the shoulder, and a light ladder. I +classify to suit the purchaser, doing the sorting in a cool place and +usually packing the best in barrels, and sell at wholesale, often in the +orchard; feed the culls to hogs; never tried distant markets. I +sometimes store for winter market in barrels and keep in cave surrounded +with hay; am not always successful. I find those that keep best are +Little Romanite, Rawle's Janet, Ben Davis, and Missouri Pippin; never +tried artificial cold-storage. Seldom have to repack stored apples +before marketing; lose about one-fourth. The prevailing price this year +has been fifty to seventy-five cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +A. S. DENNISON, Columbus, Cherokee county: Have lived in Kansas +thirty-one years; have an apple orchard of 200 trees, fourteen years +old. I prefer for commercial purpose Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri +Pippin; and for family use Red June and Early Harvest. I prefer bottom +land, with black loam, gravel subsoil, and northeast slope. I prefer +one-year-old trees, set sixteen feet at first; thin to thirty-two feet. +I cultivate my young orchard with potatoes and strawberries for ten +years, then sow to clover, plowing again in two years; I never cease +cropping; cultivate with plow, disc, and harrow. I wrap the trees for +rabbits. I prune with a saw and knife, and think it beneficial. I never +thin apples. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter, but would not +advise it on all soils. I pasture my orchard with hogs and calves, and +think it advisable, and that it pays. My trees are troubled with +tent-caterpillar, and my apples with codling-moth. I spray for +codling-moth with London purple and Paris green immediately after the +blossoms fall, and again in ten days. I think I have reduced the +codling-moth. I dig borers out. I pick my apples from a ladder in a +basket. I sort into three classes--sound, medium, and small and unsound. +I pack in barrels carefully, and haul to shipping point in spring wagon. +I sell in orchard; also wholesale, retail, and peddle; market most of +them at home; make vinegar of the culls. My best market is home. Never +dry any. I store some for winter in barrels in cellar; am not always +successful; Ben Davis keeps best. I have to repack stored apples before +marketing, and lose about ten per cent. Do not irrigate. Prices have +been from twenty-five cents to one dollar per bushel. I employ men at +one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +D. C. SEIBERT, Columbus, Cherokee county: Has been in Kansas twenty-two +years, and has an orchard from five to twenty years old. For commercial +purposes he prefers Ben Davis and Limber Twig, and for the family adds +Maiden's Blush. Prefers dark soil with a low southern slope, if not wet. +Prefers two-year-old trees set about thirty feet apart. Cultivates with +a disc harrow until four or five years old. Grows corn for five or six +years. Thinks windbreaks essential; would make them of Osage orange all +around the orchard. Prunes his trees, and thinks it beneficial, and that +it pays. Does not thin apples on the trees; says the wind does that for +him. Fertilizes his trees while young with stable litter, and would +advise it on all soils. Pastures his orchard with calves and hogs, and +thinks it advisable, and that with the hogs it pays. His trees are +troubled with bark-louse and leaf-roller, and his apples with +codling-moth. He sprays his trees with London purple, and thinks he has +reduced the codling-moth; for borers, and other insects not affected by +spraying, he throws salt over the roots of the trees. Picks his apples +by hand. Wholesales, retails and peddles them. His best markets are in +his county; has never tried distant markets. Does not dry any. Is +successful in storing apples in bulk in a cave for winter markets, the +Limber Twig and Rawle's Janet keeping best; has never tried artificial +cold storage. Does not irrigate. Prices have been from forty to +sixty-five cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +JOHNSON KELLER, Arkansas City, Cowley county: Have lived in Kansas for +twenty-one years. Have 2000 apple trees fourteen years old. I grow for +market Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Smith's Cider. For family orchard +I prefer Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Cooper's Early White, Ben Davis, +and Missouri Pippin. I have discarded Gennetting, Winesap, Rambo, Red +Astrachan, and many others that were worthless in this locality. I +prefer second bottom, dark sandy loam, with north and east aspect. I +plant two-year-old trees thirty feet apart, in holes four feet square, +dug one foot too deep, and filled up with surface soil. I cultivate +thoroughly as long as the orchard lives, with stirring plow and disc, +and crop with corn as long as it will even make fodder, or until the +trees shade the ground too much to raise anything. For small orchards I +would recommend a windbreak of Osage orange set far enough apart on the +south to grow in the shape of trees. For rabbits I use nothing but +corn-stalks tied around the trees. I prune in moderation to keep the +trees low; much pruning will kill trees in this locality. I thin apples +some on the trees, at any time after they are the size of hickory-nuts. +I find the best pollinators are a good apiary of bees. I believe in +using plenty of stable litter well mixed with potash, but in moderation +near the trees. Nothing except hogs should be allowed in an orchard. +They destroy nearly all the insects. I spray for canker-worm as soon as +they begin to hatch, and believe I reduced the codling-moth fifty per +cent. last spring. For borers I wash the bodies of the trees early in +spring and twice in May with soft soap and lime. For picking I use a +long-handled device of my own invention, and sort into two classes: No. +1, best and largest; No. 2, medium. One week after they are put in the +packing-house we pack in barrels, with hay or straw between the layers. +We market our best apples and sell our second and third grades at home, +and make all culls into cider and vinegar. Have tried distant markets, +but did not generally pay. Never dried any. We store for winter in a +fruit house and cave, in barrels, and are successful. Our best keepers +have been Missouri Pippin and Winesap. Our loss on winter apples runs +from three to five per cent. Prices in the fall, twenty-five to forty +cents; in winter, 75 cents to $1.25 per bushel. For help we use common +laborers at from seventy-five cents to one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +WM. N. SMITH, Brownsville, Chautauqua county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-eight years. I have an apple orchard of fifty trees twenty years +old and twelve inches in diameter. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben +Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap, and for family orchard I would add +Maiden's Blush and Bellflower. I prefer bottom land, black, sandy loam, +with a clay bottom and a north slope. I plant my trees thirty-six feet +each way. I plant my orchard to corn and potatoes, using a disc, and +plant tame grass in a bearing orchard, and cease cropping when they +begin to bear. Windbreaks are essential. I would make them of Osage +orange, and would surround the orchard with a fence of the same. I prune +to keep the limbs from rubbing, and I think it pays. I do not thin the +fruit while on the trees. My trees are in mixed plantings. I do not +fertilize my orchard; am on bottom land, which does not need it, but +think it would be beneficial on some soils. I pasture my orchard with +hogs, but do not think it advisable; it does not pay. My trees are +troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, flathead borer, roundhead +borer, twig-borer, and leaf-roller. I spray with Paris green and London +purple when the worms are at work on the leaves. I dig borers out. I +hand-pick my apples in baskets from ladders, and sort into two +classes--large and perfect in number one, small and perfect in number +two; the balance for cider. I pack in barrels filled full, and mark with +the grade; then haul to market in a wagon. I make the culls into cider. +Coffeyville is my best market. I dry some and find a ready market for +them; it pays. I am successful in storing apples in bulk in a cellar, +and find Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin and Winesap keep best. Prices have +been about fifty cents per bushel; dried apples, five cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +C. E. HILDRETH, secretary Altamont Horticultural Society, Altamont, +Labette county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-seven years. I have an +apple orchard of 15,000 trees eight years old, five inches in diameter, +and prefer Ben Davis, Jonathan and Missouri Pippin for market; and for +family use Early Harvest, Red June, Jonathan, Maiden's Blush, Winesap, +and Missouri Pippin. I prefer gray or red soil, porous subsoil, with an +eastern slope. I set first-class, two-year-old, well-branched trees, in +large furrows, deeply plowed out, twenty feet north and south, and +thirty-two feet east and west. For six years I grow corn in the orchard, +cultivating well; after that nothing. I plow shallow, and disc or harrow +until midsummer as often as the weeds start. I cultivate as long as the +trees live. To protect from rabbits I use sixteen-inch lath woven with +four strands of wire. I prune, to allow only three or four main +branches. I believe in fertilizer, and would use it if I had it. I think +pasturing in the orchard advisable, with young cattle or hogs, and that +it pays. Am troubled some with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, and +codling-moth; for these I spray with London purple, using a tank, with a +pump run by a sprocket and chain, from a wagon wheel. I believe I have +reduced the codling-moth by spraying. We pick in a sack over the +shoulder, as used in sowing oats. I sort only into first class and +culls, as emptied by the pickers on canvas-covered tables. I use +eleven-peck barrels, marking the name of variety and quality. Sell only +at wholesale, making cider of the culls. Have shipped to distant +markets, but it did not pay. Have never dried any, but think I ought to. + + * * * * * + +J. S. HACKNEY, Walton, Harvey county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-seven +years. Have an orchard of 325 apple trees twenty-four years old, eight +to sixteen inches in diameter. For commercial orchard I prefer Ben +Davis, Winesap, Snow, Maiden's Blush, Huntsman's Favorite, and Grimes's +Golden Pippin, and would plant the same for family orchard. Have tried +and discarded Winter Strawberry and Paradise Pippin for shy bearing. I +prefer high land, rich subsoil, with north slope. I prefer two-year-old +grafts, the more fibrous roots the better. I checked my land to corn and +then dug out the hill of corn where tree was to stand. I raise my own +root grafts. I cultivate my young orchard with corn, wheat, and oats, +using disc and smoothing harrow. I plant a bearing orchard to clover, +and cease cropping when the limbs interfere with work. I think +windbreaks are essential, and would make them of rapid-growing +forest-trees. To protect the trees from rabbits, I wash them with blood +and liver and tie up. I prune while young to shape and balance the top, +and think it beneficial. I never thin apples. I fertilize with barn-yard +litter and wood ashes. I pasture my orchard with hogs and young cattle; +think it advisable, and that it pays. + +My trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar; my fruit with codling-moth, +curculio, and gouger. I spray for the above-named insects after the +blossom has fallen and until apples are as large as quail eggs. I think +I have reduced the codling-moth. For the insects not affected by +spraying I wash with soap and strong lye. I spray with London purple, +Paris green, and kerosene emulsion. We pick apples by hand and are +careful not to bruise them. I sort into two classes; the small and +defective go to the chickens. I generally retail my apples toward +spring; sell second and third grades wherever I can; make cider of +culls. My best markets are home and Newton. Do not dry any for market. I +store 300 or 400 bushels of apples in a cellar 32x32 feet, cemented +sides and bottom, with plenty of windows and doors for ventilation; am +fairly successful; Ben Davis and Winesap keep best. I have to repack +them before marketing. I do not irrigate. Prices have been 40 cents to +$1.75 per bushel. I employ ordinary farm hands at $200 per year. + + * * * * * + +P. C. BROWN, Cherryvale, Montgomery county: I have lived in Kansas +eighteen years; have an apple orchard of 600 trees from six to +twenty-four years old. For commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis and +Jonathan, and for family orchard would add Maiden's Blush, Lowell, and +Grimes's Golden Pippin. Have tried and discarded Missouri Pippin, +Lawver, and Roxbury Russet. I prefer a first or second bottom, with a +northern or western aspect, sandy loam with gravelly subsoil. I prefer +two-year-old, well-headed trees, set thirty by thirty. I have some set +thirty by fifteen feet, but intend to grub every other one out when +large. I plant my orchard to corn or potatoes, cultivating two or four +times a year until they begin to bear, using a stirring plow, Acme +harrow, and Planet jr. horse cultivator. Never cease cropping, but +pasture with hogs. Sow grass and clover in a bearing orchard. Do not cut +and take crop off more than twice after they begin to bear. Windbreaks +are not essential, but if they were I should make them of any kind of +trees or hedges, by planting on south and west sides. For rabbits I +inclose the tree with wire screening. I dig the borers out. I prune +trees while young, until they begin to bear, by cutting out the cross +branches and watersprouts. This will promote wood growth, if done in +early spring. It is generally beneficial. I have thinned the fruit +sometimes, but it does not pay. Can't see any difference whether trees +are in blocks of one variety or in mixed plantings. I fertilize my +orchard with lime and ashes in limited quantities. It is beneficial only +on loose, loamy soil; would not advise its use on heavy clay soils. I +pasture my orchard after it comes into full bearing with swine and +poultry. I think it advisable and that it pays, if too many are not put +in. + +My trees are troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, root aphis, +twig-borer, fall web-worm, and leaf-roller. I spray just after the +leaves start and three times afterwards, a week or ten days apart, using +London purple and lime water for the foliage and fruit-eating insects; +think I have reduced the codling-moth materially. I spray early for +canker-worm, and just after the blossoms drop for codling-moth and +curculio. I hand-pick my apples from a step-ladder, in a sack hung over +the shoulder; sort into three classes--first, smooth and not specked; +second, rough and specked; third, partly rotten, for vinegar. I sort +into baskets from a table which has a rim around the edge. I pack my +first-grade apples in barrels pressed full, then headed, marked with a +stencil, and hauled to market on a wagon. I wholesale my best apples to +home buyers, and also fill orders from a distance; sell my second- and +third-grade apples to home buyers, and make into sweet cider; make +vinegar of culls and feed them to hogs. My best market is at home; have +tried distant markets; did not pay. Do not dry any. Am fairly successful +in storing apples in barrels, boxes and shallow bins in a cellar; find +Rawle's Janet, Ben Davis and Jonathan keep best. Weather is too warm in +the fall in this latitude to keep apples successfully. I have to repack +stored apples two or three times, losing from one-third to three-fourths +of them; it varies with the season and time of picking. I do not +irrigate. Prices have been from twenty-five cents to one dollar per +bushel. I employ the best help there is to be had, at from 75 cents to +$1.25 per day. + + * * * * * + +JOHN HART, Sedan, Chautauqua county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-seven +years, and have an apple orchard of 400 trees, ten years planted. I +prefer for commercial orchard Ben Davis, and for family orchard Early +Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Winesap, Ben Davis, and Arkansas Black. I +prefer sandy bottom land, and plant my trees in furrows. I cultivate my +orchard to corn as long as it is possible to grow anything, but plant +nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are beneficial. I would make +them of Osage orange or wild goose plums. I prune with a saw, to thin +out the centers and keep off suckers. I think it beneficial. I fertilize +my orchard with barn-yard litter. I think it beneficial, and would +advise its use on some lands. I do not pasture my orchard, nor would I +advise it. I spray with London purple in the spring, and am successful. +I sell my apples in the orchard, and do not dry any for market. +Missouri Pippin keeps better than other stored apples. + + * * * * * + +JAMES McNICOL, Lost Springs, Marion county: Have been in Kansas +twenty-seven years. Have an apple orchard of 12,000 trees, set from +three to ten years. Prefer Missouri Pippins alone for commercial +orchard, and Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Missouri Pippin and Grimes's +Golden Pippin for family orchard. Have discarded White Winter Pearmain +as not hardy. I prefer bottom land, northern slope, with rich surface +soil and porous subsoil. After plowing out deep furrows, subsoil with a +lister; then select well-rooted, two-year-old trees and plant carefully. +Distance apart is an important matter; if too close, the trees, no +matter how well cultivated, will suffer for moisture; if too far apart, +the wind will play havoc with trees and fruit. I would plant close rows +running east and west, as each row would help break the wind when the +trees in the row reach each other. I would plant twenty feet apart in +the row, and the rows thirty feet apart, and would recommend planting a +row of cherry, dwarf pear, plum or peach between the apple rows, +provided they are cut out at the proper time to not allow them to rob +the orchard of moisture. Cultivate often to a good old age with a disc +and Acme harrow. Grow corn or Kafir-corn for five or six years, leaving +a good space next the trees, not for weeds, but to be well cultivated. A +silly policy is to cultivate the corn that costs less than five cents +per row for seed four times, and leave the tree row that costs two +dollars or more uncultivated. Do not use a stirring plow; it hills up +around the trees too much. If you list your corn, go east and west one +year, north and south the next year. Keep the ground well cultivated; +grow nothing after five or six years, not even weeds or clover. +Cultivate at right angles and diagonal. Whenever you are blessed with a +good rain in summer don't wait until the weeds start, but cultivate as +soon as the ground will bear it. Keep a dust mulch on by cultivation; +few know the great value of a dust mulch. For a family orchard a +five-tooth cultivator near the trees, and a two-horse cultivator for the +middles, will do. Use the harrow often. Six days' work at the proper +time will keep a five-acre orchard in good shape through the season. +Some say this is not a fruit country. It is not and never will be to the +one who has no time to cultivate; but to the careful cultivator there is +great reward, for the very same reason. I believe it essential to have +windbreaks, and advise planting three or more rows of honey-locust and +Russian mulberry for windbreaks, on the south and west sides. For +rabbits I use wooden tree wraps, also traps, guns, and dogs. I prune a +little, to keep the top balanced. I use no fertilizers, and would never +allow stock pastured in orchard. Am troubled with root aphis, +leaf-crumpler, and codling-moth. I practice spraying with blue vitriol +for codling-moth. I prevent borers by keeping the ground well +cultivated. + + * * * * * + +MIKE GAMER, Strong City, Chase county: Have lived in Kansas since +February 14, 1877. Have 180 apple trees from one to twenty years old. +For commercial orchard would prefer Maiden's Blush and Ben Davis. Have +tried and discarded Rambo and Pennock, because of rot. I prefer dry +bottom. I prefer trees four to six feet high, planted thirty feet apart. +I cultivate in corn for ten years, and seed a bearing orchard to grass. +I think windbreaks are essential; would make them of Osage orange or +trees, a row outside of the orchard. Am troubled with rabbits and +borers. I prune, and think it beneficial. I pasture my orchard with +pigs, and think it advisable. My trees are troubled with flathead borer, +and my fruit with codling-moth. I wash the trees with soap-suds for +insects. I sell my apples in the orchard; make cider of the culls. I +store apples in bulk in a cellar, and find the Romanite and Missouri +Pippin keep the best. Prices have been from twenty-five to sixty cents. + + * * * * * + +GEORGE SCHENCK, Le Roy, Coffey county: Have lived in Kansas eighteen +years, and have 1200 apple trees from ten to thirty years old. For +commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis and Winesap. I prefer bottom +land. I cultivate my orchard to corn, using a lister and other tools; I +crop as long as it is possible to cultivate. Windbreaks are not +essential. I think fertilization with barn-yard litter beneficial on +upland orchard, but would not advise its use on rich bottom. I have +pastured my old orchard with calves and hogs. + + * * * * * + +C. F. PFLAGER, Elk, Chase county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-seven +years. Have 300 apple trees from one to twelve years old. For commercial +orchard I prefer Ben Davis, Willow Twig, Missouri Pippin, Winesap, and +Romanite; for family orchard, Maiden's Blush, Early Harvest, Yellow +Transparent, and Baldwin. I have tried and discarded Sweet Gennetting, +because of rot, and when ripe it is too small for market; Caswinculet, +because it sun-scalds and dries up, and Early White will not stand the +climate. I prefer bottom land, with sandy soil. I prefer two-year-old +trees, with low top, without forks, set four inches above the graft, at +an angle of thirty degrees south. Have grown some seedlings with good +success. I cultivate my orchard with potatoes and tobacco, using a plow +and cultivator, until four years old; I plant nothing in a bearing +orchard, and cease cropping when they commence to bear. Windbreaks are +essential here, and I would make them of Osage orange and forest-trees; +if Osage orange is used, plant it twenty feet from the orchard, or it +will injure the fruit-trees. I wrap my trees with corn-stalks or rags to +protect from rabbits, and wash the trees with lye water for borers; I +also dig them out. I have pruned with clippers, and found it injurious +to the trees; I only cut out watersprouts. I never thin my apples; they +thin themselves. My trees are in mixed plantings and bear well. + +I fertilize my orchard with barn-yard litter; I also use fertilizer from +the chicken yard, and would advise its use on all soils. I never pasture +my orchard; it injures the trees, and does not pay. My trees are +troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, flathead borer, and +leaf-roller. Curculio trouble my apples. I do not spray, but my +neighbors do, and are not successful. I pick my apples by hand into +half-bushel baskets, and put them in a wagon, with hay in the bottom. I +sort into three or four classes, putting the red, yellow and green in +separate piles. I pack my apples in sacks, and haul to market in a +wagon. I often sell in the orchard; retail my best at stores, peddle the +second and third grades, and make cider for vinegar of the culls. My +best markets are Elmdale, Chase county, and Marion, Marion county; have +never tried distant markets. We dry a few apples; use a parer, corer, +and slicer; it is satisfactory; then pack them in flour sacks; but it +does not pay. I store some in boxes and barrels in a cave; am +successful; those that keep best are Romanite and Red Winter Pearmain. +Never have tried artificial cold storage. We have to repack stored +apples before sending to market; lose about five per cent. Prices have +been from fifty cents to one dollar per bushel, and dried apples five +cents per pound. I employ farm hands at from ten dollars to eighteen +dollars per month. + + * * * * * + +THOMAS W. SMITH, Baxter Springs, Cherokee county: Have lived in Kansas +twenty-eight years. My trees were destroyed in the storm of 1895. For +commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin. +Prefer hilltop with an east slope. I cultivate at six years; seed a +bearing orchard to clover. Windbreaks are not essential. Never thinned +apples. Pasture my orchard with cows and horses. Prices during winter +have been forty cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +S. H. BAILEY, Uniontown, Bourbon county: I have lived in Kansas fifteen +years, and have an orchard of 150 apple trees thirty years old. I prefer +Canada Pippin [Downing calls this White Pippin], Ben Davis, Rome Beauty, +Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, and Maiden's Blush, for all purposes. I +prefer hillside land, with a northeastern slope. I plant apple trees +thirty feet apart each way. I cultivate in potatoes, corn, or any hoed +crop, using a hoe and cultivator. I sow a bearing orchard to clover, and +cease cropping at ten or twelve years. Windbreaks are essential, and I +would make them of Osage orange planted thirty feet from the trees. I +prune a little every year, to get rid of dead limbs, and also thin out +the center of trees, to improve the fruit. I use a saw and knife. My +trees are in block. It is beneficial to mulch with old hay or straw in +drought. I pasture my orchard with small calves, but would not advise +it, as it does not pay. I sprayed with a pump, using London purple, but +it did little good. I cut borers out, and then pour coal-oil in the +holes. I hand-pick my apples in a sack, using a ladder. I sort into two +classes--good and second best. If for home use, I put them in rail pens +for about three weeks; then sort out the good ones and make cider of the +culls. I pack in three-bushel barrels, and ship to Kansas City. I sell +my best apples to shippers. I dry and make cider of the second- and +third-class apples, and feed the culls to the hogs and cows. I store +some for home use, and would store more if I had cold storage. We have +to repack stored apples before selling, and lose about one-half of them. +I have sold Canada Pippins from fifty cents to two dollars per bushel. I +employ men and boys, and pay from fifty cents to seventy-five cents per +day and board. + + * * * * * + +W. T. WALTERS, Emporia, Lyon county: I have been in Kansas nearly +twenty-one years. I have 700 apple trees; 200 thirty years old, 100 +eleven years old, and 400 seven years old. Market varieties, Ben Davis, +Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Jonathan; and for family have added Red +Astrachan, Red June, Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, and Rambo. I prefer +bottom land if not too low; I have apples when they dry up on the hill. +Prefer a rich, dark loam, with a slightly porous subsoil, and northeast +slope. Use two-year-old thrifty trees, with well-balanced head. Fall +plow deeply, throw two or three furrows each way, leaving a deep dead +furrow, cross lightly with one furrow, and plant at the crossings. I +grow corn, sweet and Irish potatoes for eight or ten years, then seed to +clover. I cultivate with a one-horse plow, using a hoe around trees. In +my oldest orchard I grow nothing, but use the disc freely. I believe +windbreaks necessary on upland, but not in our bottom. Use corn-stalks +tied around the tree for rabbits. I prevent borers by keeping the trees +thrifty. I prune with knife and saw only to remove dead limbs and keep +others from rubbing together, and I think it pays. I think thinning +would pay, with cheap labor. Have used coarse stable litter in my +orchard; think it has paid in larger and better-colored fruit; would +advise its use for bearing trees. I would pasture my orchard with +calves, hogs, and sheep, if I had them; I believe if judiciously done it +would pay. I spray before the buds open, after the bloom drops, and ten +days later, with London purple and lime, for canker-worm and +codling-moth; have kept the canker-worm in check, but have not prevented +my apples from getting wormy and falling. I hand-pick in sacks and +baskets; pack in tight, eleven-peck barrels; but sell most of my apples +in the orchard to teamsters from the West. I sell culls to the cider +and canning factories. My best market is in the orchard. Never shipped +but once; not satisfactory. I store some in tight barrels in the cellar, +and find Winesaps keep the best. We lose from ten to twenty-five per +cent. of them; some winters they keep better than others. Never dried +any, and have not irrigated. Prices from thirty to fifty cents per +bushel at picking time. I use men and boys at from fifty cents to one +dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +C. L. KENDRICK, Waverly, Coffey county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-five years. Have an apple orchard of 375 trees, eighteen years +planted. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Jonathan, Missouri +Pippin, and Winesap; for family orchard, Early Harvest, Summer Queen, +and Sherwood's Favorite [Chenango]. Have tried and discarded Bellflower +and Rawle's Janet; they are a failure. I prefer hilltop, with a deep +clay soil, slightly sandy, and a north or northeast slope. I prefer +two-year-old trees, with smooth, heavy bodies, and a low top, set in +holes forty feet apart, with a little loose dirt thrown in the bottom, +the trees leaning a little to the southwest. I cultivate my orchard to +sweet corn and castor-beans, using a disc run deep, excepting close to +trees; I cease cropping after five years, and sow a bearing orchard to +clover. Windbreaks are essential, and I would make them of maple, +Russian mulberry, or Osage orange, set in rows close together, and cut +top off maples at four feet. I use building paper as a protection +against rabbits, and for borers I whitewash the trees; then remove about +three inches of earth from the trees and pour some around the roots. I +prune with a saw and shears, to admit more air and sun; I think it +beneficial, and that it pays. I never thin my fruit on the trees. My +trees are in mixed plantings, and I find them and Mrs. Garrison's and +several others' are thus more fruitful; the varieties used are Ben +Davis, Jonathan, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Sherwood's Favorite, +planted in alternate rows east and west. I never fertilize my orchard; I +think clover left in an orchard for two years and then plowed or cut in +with a disc is the best fertilizer for an orchard after it begins to +bear. I never pasture my orchard; do not think it advisable. + +My trees are troubled with bag-worm, roundhead borer, bark-louse, and +fall web-worm. My apples are troubled with curculio. I spray with London +purple and lime, with a pump, just after the fruit is formed, for +web-worm and curculio. I think I have reduced the codling-moth by +spraying. I get after insects not affected by spraying with a knife. I +gather apples by hand in a sack, and sort into three classes: the large +and smooth, second size, and culls. I sort from the piles after picking; +then sell or bury them. I prefer two-and-one-half-bushel barrels, with +straw in the bottom and around the sides, marked with a tin tag, and +hauled to market in a heavy spring wagon. I sell in the orchard, +wholesale, retail, and peddle; I sell my best apples to shippers, peddle +the second and third grades, and make cider of the culls. My best market +is Ottawa; have never tried a distant market. I store apples in bulk or +bin, in a fruit house built on a well-drained place; the house is made +of flax straw, posts, and wire or boards to hold the straw in place; the +walls are three and one-half feet thick, four and one-half feet high, +and the roof two and one-half feet, with ventilator in the center. The +door is in the east end. I use two doors, one on the inside, and one on +the outside, filling the space between with flax straw. Am successful in +keeping apples, and find those that keep best are Jonathan, Winesap, +Missouri Pippin, and Smith's Cider. Winter apples have been forty-five +cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +W. J. ALBRIGHT, Julia, Kingman county: Have lived in Kansas eighteen +years; have an apple orchard of 500 trees, six to seventeen years old, +four to ten inches in diameter, I prefer bottom land for an orchard. I +cultivate my orchard by subsoiling and shallow cultivation, using a disc +and Acme harrow; I grow nothing in a bearing orchard, not even weeds. +Windbreaks are essential; would make them of Osage orange or Russian +mulberries. Am not troubled with rabbits or borers. I prune some; it +makes better trees. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees. I +fertilize my orchard with cow-stable litter, but do not think it +beneficial. I do not pasture my orchard. My apples are troubled with +codling-moth. I sprayed five years with Paris green and London purple, +and was not successful. I gather my fruit off the ground. My best market +is at home. We dry apples for home use, and do not store any. I irrigate +with a windmill and earth reservoir; it makes big trees. + + * * * * * + +L. J. HAINES, Galena, Cherokee county: Has been in Kansas nineteen +years. Has an orchard of 2500 trees, fourteen years planted, averaging +eighteen inches in diameter, planted for commercial purposes, and +comprising Willow Twig, Ben Davis, and Winesap, which varieties he would +also recommend for family orchard. Has tried and discarded Snow and +Missouri Pippin, as they would not bear fruit; cannot tell why. Prefers +alluvial soil, with clay subsoil susceptible of good drainage, south +slope preferred. Cultivates always with plow, leaving a deep center +furrow. Tries to eradicate all growth between the trees in a bearing +orchard. Believes windbreaks are essential; uses maple. Prunes, to +stimulate trunk and fruit growth. Fertilizes with wood ashes, and says +they should be used on all soils that lack potash. Pastures his orchard +in spring with calves and hogs, and believes it pays. Sprays April 1, +April 30, and June 1, with London purple, copperas, Paris green, and +Bordeaux mixture. Not fully successful, but believes he reduces the +codling-moth. For borers he lixiviates the ground. This, he claims, +kills by contact under the ground. Plow in fall in time to let the rains +settle in, and too late to keep it from freezing; freeze them out. Sorts +into three classes: Middling [fair], bad, and worse. Hand packed in +barrels, stem down, best on top, and marked "First class." He sells at +wholesale, sometimes in orchard. Feeds culls to stock. Has found Kansas +City, Omaha and Denver to be the best markets. Dries apples on Fay +drier, made in Cincinnati, for home use only, and not satisfactory. +Stores apples for winter in bulk in cave, and finds Ben Davis the best +keeper. For help he uses boys at fifty cents per day, and men at one +dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +A. J. SALTZMAN, Burrton, Harvey county: I have lived in Kansas +thirty-one years. Have an apple orchard of 500 trees from one to twelve +inches in diameter. For commercial orchard I would prefer Early Harvest, +Maiden's Blush, Ben Davis, Cooper's Early White, and Jonathan; and for +family orchard Early Harvest, Lawver, Jonathan, and Winesap. Have tried +and discarded Willow Twig and Large Romanite on account of blight, and +the fruit rots and specks. I prefer hilltop, with sandy loam and clay +subsoil, and a north or northwest aspect. Prefer two-year-old trees, +with good, thrifty roots, planted thirty feet apart each way. I +cultivate my orchard to corn, potatoes, Kafir-corn and cane for five or +six years, with plow and cultivator, and cease cropping when the orchard +begins to bear. I plant bearing orchard to rye, oats, and artichokes, +and then turn in hogs. Windbreaks are essential; would makes them of +evergreens or Russian mulberries, planted four feet apart. I prune with +a saw, pruning-hook, knife, and sometimes an ax, to give proper shape to +the tree, and to let in air and light; I think it pays. I do not thin +the fruit on the trees, but think it should be done. I fertilize my +orchard with barn-yard litter, and think it beneficial; I would advise +its use on all soils. I pasture my orchard after five or six years with +hogs, and think it advisable and that it pays. My trees are troubled +with root aphis, but not bad, and my apples with codling-moth. I do not +spray. I hand-pick my apples, in baskets, or in a sack over the +shoulder, and put them in barrels, boxes, or wagon. I sort into two +classes: first, sound, for market or home use; second, for vinegar. I +sort them as I pick, and drop the vinegar ones on the ground, and gather +afterwards. I pack my apples in bushel boxes (that is the best way) +while picking. I sell apples in the orchard; also wholesale, retail, and +peddle. I make second- and third-grade apples into vinegar, or feed them +to hogs. My best market is at home. Have tried distant markets, and +found it sometimes paid. I do not dry any, and am successful at storing +apples in bulk in a cellar; sometimes I bury them; I find Winesap, +Limber Twig and Little Romanite keep best. We have to repack stored +apples before marketing, losing from ten to fifteen per cent. of them. I +do not irrigate, but think it would pay. Prices have been from forty +cents to one dollar per bushel; dried apples from five to six cents per +pound. + + * * * * * + +J. B. SAXE, Fort Scott, Bourbon county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-nine +years. Have an apple orchard of 800 trees from fifteen to twenty-seven +years old. For commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis and Willow Twig, +and for family orchard would add Winesap and Jonathan. Have tried and +discarded Baldwin, Yellow Bellflower, Maiden's Blush, Early Harvest, +Sweet Bough, Bailey's Sweet, Roxberry Russet, Fall Strawberry, King of +Tompkins County, and several Russian varieties; all are worthless. I +prefer hilly land, with loam soil and clay subsoil, northeast slope. I +prefer one- or two-year-old medium-sized trees, set twenty to thirty +feet apart. Plant my orchard to corn, raspberries, and blackberries, +using a plow and cultivator--a one-horse cultivator between the rows, +for five or six years; cease cropping when the trees begin to bear. +Windbreaks are not essential. I poison the rabbits, and am not bothered +with borers. Prune a little with a pruning knife to keep the head open; +think it pays, and is beneficial. Have never thinned apples while on the +trees. I do not fertilize; our soil is rich enough; ashes or potash +might be beneficial. I think hogs beneficial in an orchard. My trees are +troubled with root aphis, and my apples with codling-moth and curculio. +Pick apples by hand from a ladder into a bag. Sort into two classes, +perfect and imperfect, from piles on the grass or ground. Pack my apples +in barrels by hand, mark with my name, and haul to market in a spring +wagon. Generally sell apples in the orchard, also wholesale; peddle the +second and third grades, and make culls into cider for vinegar. Never +dry any. I stored some in boxes in the cellar last fall, also buried +some in the ground, and was successful. Found Limber Twig and Rawle's +Janet kept best. We had to repack stored apples before marketing; lost +about one-half of those in the cellar, but very few of those buried in +the ground. Do not irrigate. Prices were about forty cents per bushel at +wholesale in the fall on the trees. + + * * * * * + +S. F. C. GARRISON, El Dorado, Butler county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years; have an apple orchard of 1000 trees, twenty to +twenty-five years old, ten to twelve inches in diameter. I prefer for +commercial purposes Ben Davis, Winesap, King of Tompkins County, and +Rawle's Janet; and for family orchard Maiden's Blush, Milam, Jonathan, +and Sweet Bough. Have tried and discarded Keswick Codlin, Willow Twig +and Dominie on account of blight. I prefer second bottom, reddish soil, +with liver-red subsoil, and a north slope. I prefer two-year-old, +short-trunk, smooth and round trees. In planting, plow both ways with a +coulter and subsoiler, then dig out. I cultivate my orchard to corn for +three or four years, using a plow; I cease cropping after eight years, +and plant nothing in a bearing orchard. I use sulphur mixed with axle +grease to protect against rabbits. For borers I use fish oil spurted in +with sewing-machine oiler. I prune the under limbs to prevent hanging on +the ground. It does not pay, and is not very beneficial. I thin Rawle's +Janet apples when the smallest ones are as large as marbles. My trees +are in mixed plantings. I fertilize with stable litter, and think it +beneficial; but would not advise its use on all soils. Never pasture my +orchard. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, root aphis, twig-borer, +leaf-roller, and bark-louse, and my apples with curculio. I spray with +London purple and strychnine when the leaves are small; think I have +reduced the codling-moth. I pick my apples (from step-ladders where +high) into baskets. Sort into three classes: cider, specked, and sound. +We leave them in piles until they sweat, then dry and sort. I prefer +two-and-one-half bushel barrels, packed with a nice layer on the bottom +(this will be top when opened), then mark with the name of fruit, and +haul to market by rail or wagon. I sell in orchard, wholesale, retail, +and peddle, and make cider of the culls. My best markets are Wichita, +Pueblo, Leadville, the Strip, and Eldorado. Have tried distant markets, +but it does not pay. + +I never dry any for market. I store some apples for winter market in +bulk; am not very successful; find Winesap keeps the best. Have to +repack stored apples before marketing; lose about ten per cent. I do not +irrigate. Prices have been from twenty-five cents to one dollar per +bushel; dried apples, four and one-half cents per pound. I employ young +men, at from seventy-five cents to one dollar per day. I have sprayed +carefully for three years, and am glad to report no worms this year +[1898]. Winesap not full--too full and dry last year, Maiden's Blush +full, Rawle's Janet very full, Sweet Bough full, Limber Twig full, Milam +full, Ben Davis fair, Northern Spy fair, Little Romanite light, Jonathan +light, Willow Twig and King (of Tompkins county) full, Talman Sweet +full, and Pound Sweet full. + +Trees must not be trimmed up too high, as is too much the practice. A +low, broad top will hold the least sprinkle of rain longer, and the wind +will not have much chance to dry the earth under the trees. There are +millions of hair roots just at the surface, in the compost, or loose +earth, to immediately absorb the moisture if wind and sun are kept off. +The buds set better when the trunks are short, and kept as cool as +possible, so that the sap can run freely to the terminal buds, and also +make buds, when, if high and dry, no bud formation can occur. Trees +should be short in trunk, broad top, and limbs nearly to the ground. No +hogs nor calves should be allowed in the orchard, but all the chickens +possible. Cut off all dead branches, and fill up vacancies. Trees should +be two or three years old when set. When setting make a good large hole, +and in the center make a hill or cone of earth. Then spread the roots +out in their natural position, and after this fill in some earth and +press lightly. Set two or three inches deeper than they grew in the +nursery, trim close, and leave no acute forks. Compel the limbs to start +at obtuse or right angles from the trunk; if they bend over to the +north, anchor with string and stake. The art and science of horticulture +are little studied in Kansas. It takes good judgment and a scientific +turn of mind to be successful in orcharding. Chemistry, botany and +physiology are especially necessary to make it a delightful work in +life. We must run back to the original, which was no doubt far beyond +anything we as yet have, or we could not improve at all. The beauty ran +down as man did, and it will be a long time before perfection is +reached. + + * * * * * + +D. M. ADAMS, Rome, Sumner county: I have lived in Kansas fourteen years; +have an apple orchard of 140 trees from eight to twelve years old. For +market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap. I prefer bottom +land for an orchard. I prefer three-year-old trees set fifteen by thirty +feet; mine are planted thirty by thirty. I plant my orchard to corn for +four years, using a cultivator and harrow, and cease cropping after four +or five years. I plant nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are +essential here. For rabbits I use a gun and traps, and for borers I wash +with soap-suds. I should thin my apples if there was a heavy crop. I +fertilize my orchard with stable litter, and think it beneficial. I do +not pasture my orchard; it is not advisable. My trees are troubled with +borers. I do not spray. + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM PRICE, El Dorado, Butler county: Have lived in Kansas +thirty-five years; have 1200 apple trees, planted twelve to eighteen +years, running from eight to twelve inches in diameter. My market +varieties are Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Ben Davis, Large Romanite, and +Jonathan; for family I have added Early Harvest, Red June, Red +Astrachan, and Maiden's Blush. I have discarded Rawle's Janet, as they +grow in clusters and rot on the trees. My location is on hilltop, with a +loose clay soil, and a north aspect. I plant two-year-old upright trees, +with good roots, in deep furrows thrown out each way, and subsoiled. I +cultivate same as corn, and grow corn as a crop, for small grains and +millet breed insects. In the bearing orchard I grow nothing. I cultivate +with the disc harrow, cultivator, and plow, until the trees cover the +ground, from twelve to fifteen years from planting. I wash the trees +three times a year with a solution of soft-soap suds and crude carbolic +acid. I believe windbreaks are essential, and would make them of rapid, +dense-growing trees; I use Russian mulberry, planted in three rows, +twelve feet apart, mismatched. For rabbits I rub the trees with sulphur +and grease. If trees are washed with carbolic acid and soap-suds, no +borer will ever attack them. I trim very slightly to keep down +watersprouts; to trim as they do in the East does not pay here. I do not +thin, but believe fruit would sometimes be larger and better for it. I +believe in fertilizing, and prefer cow-yard litter, sheep litter, and +hay; on rich bottom land I would use hay mulching. Mulching should be +removed from around the trees for hoeing, and then replaced. I never +pasture an orchard. + +Am troubled some with canker-worm, twig-borer, and codling-moth. I spray +three or four times in a season, from eight to ten days apart, according +to the weather, beginning as soon as the blossoms appear, with a large +force-pump, and a rod with double nozzle, for canker-worm, web-worm, and +codling-moth. I have lessened the codling-moth by using copper sulphate +solution very early [?]. For borers I use London purple, copper +sulphate, Bordeaux, and Paris green [?]. We pick by hand, and sort into +two classes: First, the finest fruit; third, the culls, and second, +betweens. Sell some in the orchard, from a bushel to wagon-loads. Sell +my best apples on orders from merchants and citizens. The second grade +same as the first, if desired. The culls I make into vinegar, which I +sell in the home market. Our best market is at home. I tried shipping, +but transportation charges were too high; have not tried drying. I store +for winter outdoors, covered with hay and dirt, so as not to freeze. The +Romanite keeps best. I make my piles of twenty bushels, and lose perhaps +one-twentieth. Do not irrigate. Prices of late: First class, fifty +cents; second class, thirty-five cents per bushel. I use young men and +boys at from fifty cents to one dollar per day and board. I have one of +the best small orchards in the state. Have been successful in planting +and growing trees. + + * * * * * + +R. E. LAWRENCE, Wichita, Sedgwick county: I have resided in the state +twenty-eight years; have an apple orchard of 300 trees from twenty to +twenty-four years old. For market I prefer Missouri Pippin and Ben +Davis, and for family orchard would add Winesap, Early June, and +Grimes's Golden Pippin. I prefer bottom land with a sandy loam soil and +porous subsoil. I prefer two-year-old trees set thirty feet apart each +way. I cultivate my orchard to corn or potatoes for several years, using +a common cultivator; cease cropping when they begin to bear, and sow to +orchard-grass. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of +forest-trees. I prune to thin the branches; think it beneficial. Do not +thin the fruit while on the trees. My trees are in mixed plantings. I do +not fertilize my orchard. I do not pasture my orchard. Codling-moth +troubles my apples; have not sprayed. Pick my apples by hand; sort into +two classes--marketable and cider. I sell some apples while in the +orchard at retail. Sell my best apples in home market, and make cider of +culls. Never tried distant markets. Do not dry any. Don't store any. Do +not irrigate. Prices have been from twenty-five cents to one dollar per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +S. S. WEATHERBY, Le Roy, Coffey county: Have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years. Have 500 apple trees, twelve years planted, six +inches in diameter. Grow only Ben Davis, Winesap, and Missouri Pippin. +Have discarded Willow Twig on account of blight. My location is in the +bottom, with rich loam and sandy subsoil. I have planted in rows +thirty-two feet distant; cultivate in corn for four years after +planting, and use the disc harrow as much as possible. In a bearing +orchard I would put clover. Believe windbreaks are essential, made of +any kind of forest-trees, planted thickly, in two or three rows around +the orchard, and cultivated while small. Protect from rabbits with a dog +and gun, and also by wrapping the trees. Prune very little; simply keep +down sprouts and remove crossed limbs. Have never thinned on the tree, +and believe barn-yard litter useful as a fertilizer. I pasture with a +few calves, but think it does not pay. Am troubled with some insect, and +spray moderately in May with London purple, for web-worm and +leaf-crumpler. Pick from the wagon, driving under the trees. Sell at +both wholesale and retail, and my best market is the commercial buyer. +Feed my culls mostly to the pigs. Never have dried any, nor stored any +for winter. Have a pipe running from my water-tank, by which means have +watered a few trees for a number of years, and these trees are very +large and yield very fine fruit. If I were to start again, instead of +planting 500 apple trees I would plant sixty, and dig a well and put a +windmill in the midst of them; and I am confident I would get more +satisfactory returns. + + * * * * * + +J. A. MULLINEAUX, Cherryvale, Montgomery county: I have been in Kansas +twenty-nine years. Have 350 apple trees of various ages and sizes, +mainly Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin. Have tried and discarded the +Romanite as too small. I prefer bottom or second-bottom land, red soil, +with sandy subsoil, and a south slope. I plant two-year-old trees in the +spring, 32x32 feet; cultivate for four years, growing oats as a crop; +also grow oats in a bearing orchard. Believe windbreaks or an +Osage-orange hedge are beneficial. I tie corn-stalks around my trees to +keep off the rabbits. I never prune at all. Do not thin fruit on the +trees. I fertilize with stable litter while trees are young. Believe it +pays to pasture orchards with hogs, as they destroy worms. I am troubled +some with borers, web-worms, and codling-moth, but have never practiced +spraying. I pick by hand, and sort into first and second classes, and +pack in bushel boxes, selling at wholesale; haul to market on a rack; +make my culls into cider. My best market is Cherryvale. Never have +dried any. Do not irrigate. I store for winter in bulk in the cellar, +and am successful in keeping Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis. Price here +is $1.50 per bushel. + + * * * * * + +O. M. RECORD, Thayer, Neosho county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-one +years; have 400 apple trees eight years old. My land is eastern slope, +clay subsoil; I plant 20x28, first subsoiling the row. Cultivate to corn +and potatoes with a plow, common cultivator, and five-tooth cultivator, +until eight years old; then sow to clover. I believe a windbreak is +essential, and like Russian mulberry planted on the south and west. To +protect from rabbits and borers I use a wash made of soap, lime, and +crude coal-oil. I prune with the shears to balance the top properly, and +think it pays. I think varieties that grow in clusters like Rawle's +Janet should be thinned to a single specimen. I use stable litter, as my +land is a light, sandy loam and needs it. I pasture my orchard with +hogs, but not too many; if they run short of feed they will sometimes +bark the trees. I am troubled some with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, +leaf-roller, and codling-moth. I spray as soon as the bloom is off and +twice afterwards with lime and crude oil, to kill the leaf eaters and +fungus, and have probably reduced the codling-moth. I look for borers in +the fall and dig them out with a knife. My orchard is yet too young to +describe picking, sorting, etc. I intend to build a pond and try wetting +the ground when the trees need it. + + * * * * * + +CHAS. DIEMURT, Murdock, Butler county: I have been in Kansas thirty +years; have 400 apple trees eight years old. I have Ben Davis, Winesap, +Missouri Pippin, Dominie, Grimes's Golden Pippen, Rome Beauty, Rambo, +Early Harvest, Bellflower, Rawle's Janet, Willow Twig, Red June, +Maiden's Blush, and Duchess of Oldenburg. I prefer hilltop, with sandy +soil, and a red, sandy subsoil, with western slope. I plant +two-year-old, low, stocky trees, two rods apart each way. I cultivate +with plow and cultivator. I whitewash with lime and blood to keep the +rabbits off, and lime to keep off borers and other insects. I prune, +taking off only surplus limbs, and think it beneficial. I never thin +apples. I fertilize to improve the tree; I think it advisable. Am +troubled with canker-worm, leaf-crumplers, and codling-moth. I spray +when the leaves are just out with London purple for canker-worm, and +think I have reduced the codling-moth. For insects that are not affected +by spraying, I wash the trees with lime during the fall, and in the +spring with strong soap suds. I pick my apples by hand, and sort into +two classes--best for eating, second for cider. For packing I prefer +boxes made of slats [lath?], two feet wide by four feet long, and one +foot deep. I sell some in the orchard, make cider of the culls, and +store some in boxes, and am successful. I find the Missouri Pippin and +Winesap keep best. Prices have been from fifty cents to one dollar per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +F. M. SAVAGE, Burden, Cowley county: Have been in Kansas twenty-seven +years; have a small orchard of 375 trees that have been set from four to +twenty-two years. I would recommend for all purposes Ben Davis, Winesap, +and Missouri Pippin. Tried Northern Spy, but it did not do well. My +location is on hilltop, north slope, with a black loam soil and clay +subsoil. I plant two-year-old thrifty trees with a spade, in large, deep +holes. Would cultivate as long as they live, with a plow, and grow no +crop among the trees. I think a windbreak of several rows of Osage +orange on the south side is a necessity. For borers and rabbits wash +with whale-oil soap, digging out any borers that may be in with a knife. +I prune with a knife, saw, and ax, and believe it pays. I use stable +litter in my orchard. Tried pasturing my orchard once with hogs, but do +not think it advisable. Have some borers, tent-caterpillars, and +codling-moth, but have never sprayed any. Pick in baskets, buckets, and +sacks, and sort into two classes--first, to sell or put away; second, +culls. Prefer large boxes, with the fruit laid in carefully, each kind +by itself. I wholesale as many as possible, sell some in the orchard, +and make cider of culls. My best market is at home. Have never tried +drying. Keep them successfully over winter in bulk in the cellar for +family use; Winesap keeps best. Prices have run from twenty-five cents +to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +S. B. BROWN, Waverly, Coffey county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-six +years. Have 1100 apple trees from three to twenty-five years old. My +market varieties are Winesap and Missouri Pippin; for family orchard I +add Yellow Transparent and Grimes's Golden Pippin. My location is +hilltop, with a northern slope. I plant two-year-old trees by running a +furrow with a plow and opening holes with a shovel. I cultivate with a +plow and cultivator from ten to twelve years, growing corn for ten +years; after that, nothing. I believe windbreaks are essential, and +would make them of Osage orange or maples, on the east, north, and +northwest. For rabbits I wrap the trees; for borers I wash with soft +soap. I prune to make the apples larger. I use stable litter between the +rows. I do not think it advisable to pasture the orchard. I do not +spray, and am troubled with canker-worm, flat-headed borer, and +curculio. We hand-pick into sacks, and sort into four grades--No. 1, No. +2, No. 3, and culls. I peddle my best apples; make culls into cider. My +best market is Waverly; never tried distant markets. I have dried apples +on the Zimmerman drier with satisfaction. I box the dried product and +find a ready market for it, and think it pays. I do not store any +apples. The prevailing price for apples is fifty cents per bushel, and +for dried apples twelve cents per pound. I use men for help, and pay one +dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +DICK MAY, Elk, Chase county: Have lived in Kansas since 1860. Have a +family apple orchard of sixty trees eighteen years old. I prefer Ben +Davis and Winesap, on bottom land with a second slope. I cultivate my +orchard fourteen years, using a cultivator, and plant corn in a young +orchard and orchard-grass in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are +essential; I would make them of timber by planting in groves. For +rabbits I wrap the trees; and use soap-suds for borers. I prune with a +pruning-knife, and think it pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the +trees. I would advise the use of fertilizers on all soils. I do not +pasture my orchard; do not think it advisable; it does not pay. My trees +are troubled with roundhead borer, and tent-caterpillar. I do not spray. +I pick by hand and sort into two classes. I haul to market in a wagon +and wholesale them. I have put apples in cold storage and find Winesap +and Missouri Pippin keep best and satisfactorily. I have to repack +stored apples before marketing. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from +fifty cents to one dollar per bushel, and dried apples six cents per +pound. + + * * * * * + +E. O. BEAVERS, Ottumwa, Lyon county: Have been in Kansas twenty-three +years. Have 2000 apple trees, from one to twenty-three years planted. +Prefer for market Winesap, Mammoth Black Twig, Gano, Ben Davis, and +Missouri Pippin; and for family use Winesap, Mammoth Black Twig, Gano, +Ben Davis, Jonathan, and Early Harvest. Have tried and discarded Lawver, +because they do not hang on until maturity. I prefer a north slope of +high, level, bottom land, with black soil and clay subsoil. Plant +two-year-old, whole-root, round-topped trees, in large holes dug two +feet deep and filled for six inches with surface soil, packed well. Have +now in bearing some good seedlings. Grow corn in orchard from eight to +ten years, and cultivate the tree rows well with shallow plowing, and +harrow and cultivator. After ten years sow to red clover. Want a +windbreak of timber on south. Shoot the rabbits. Prune with saw and axe +to "get nicer apples," and think it pays exceedingly well. Prefer to +plant in blocks of a kind, as they are more fruitful. Use stable litter, +but not close up to the trees. Believe it pays to pasture with hogs, if +not overstocked. Have canker-worm and codling-moth; spray three times, +the first before blooming, for canker-worm. Have surely reduced +codling-moth by spraying. Borers never bother any. Pick by hand from +common ladders, with sack over shoulder. Sort into three classes: No. 1 +perfect, No. 2, and culls. Have a different man to pick out each grade. +Use eleven-peck barrels; face two layers, then fill, shake, and press. +Usually sell marketable fruit in orchard to shippers. Sell culls by +wagon-loads in orchard. My best near-by market is Emporia, Kan. Have +shipped to a distant market and made it pay. I have stored some in +barrels in cellar, and all kept well, Winesap perhaps a little the +better. Prices range from forty to sixty cents per bushel. I employ the +best experienced men I can get, and pay one dollar per day of ten hours. + + * * * * * + +J. ELLISON, Chautauqua, Chautauqua county: Has lived thirty-two years in +Kansas. Has an orchard of 800 trees--300 fifteen years, and 500 twelve +years planted. Prefers Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Rawle's Janet and +Jonathan for market, and for family use adds Maiden's Blush. Has +discarded every other kind; the above are the only profitable ones. +Prefers sandy loam with clay subsoil, high eastern slope, protected on +north. Sets three-foot yearling trees in spring, marking out with +fourteen-inch plow, thirty-five feet apart each way, and set at +crossing. Cultivates with stubble plow in April, then keeps harrow going +until August 1. Uses hoe around trees. Grows corn in orchard until ten +years old; then keeps ground well cultivated. Does not desire +windbreaks. Feeds the rabbits poisoned fruit. Says borers are not +troublesome if cultivation is kept up every two weeks through June and +July. Prunes any time from January to June, to improve the fruit and +prolong the life of the tree. Says stable litter on all sandy loam, not +nearer than three feet from the tree, will make the fruit larger, +crisper, and better flavor. Allows no stock but poultry in the orchard. +Sprays with London purple, on April 10, 20, 30, and May 10, for +canker-worms, and destroys them completely. Has cleaned out the +codling-moth, too. For borers he washes his trees in June and September +with carbolic acid ten pounds, sulphur forty pounds, lime enough to make +a thick whitewash. On picking he sorts into three grades: No. 1, select, +large, sound, smooth; No. 2, small and sound; No. 3, knotty and specked. +Uses for marketing one-bushel baskets packed full. His best market is in +the orchard, selling by wagon-loads. He uses some culls for vinegar and +gives many to his neighbors. Does not dry any. Stores some for winter in +trenches in bulk, in the soil, covered with pure earth, and they keep as +follows: Missouri Pippin, first; Rawle's Janet, second; Ben Davis, +third. Prices vary from forty cents to one dollar per bushel. Uses +common farm help at sixty cents to eighty cents per day. + + * * * * * + +N. SANFORD, Oswego, Labette county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-seven +years. Have an apple orchard of 150 trees, twenty-four years old, ten +inches in diameter. For all purposes I prefer Red June, Jonathan, +Grimes's Golden Pippin, Rome Beauty, and Winesap. Have tried and +discarded Ben Davis, White Winter Pearmain, Red Winter Pearmain, and +Missouri Pippin; they don't do well here. I prefer clay bottom land with +north aspect. I prefer well-grown two-year-old trees, set a little +deeper than nurserymen recommend. I cultivate my orchard to corn or +potatoes four years, using a five-tooth cultivator, and cease cropping +after six years. I plant nothing but raspberries and blackberries in a +bearing orchard. Windbreaks are not essential. For rabbits I wrap the +young trees with cloth. I prune the tree while young to give shape and +get rid of dead branches; I think it pays. I do not thin my apples while +on the trees; it does not pay. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter +and ashes; would advise their use on all soils. I pasture my orchard in +early spring and during the fall and winter with horses and cattle; +think it advisable, and that it pays. My trees are troubled with +canker-worm, bud moth, root aphis, and twig-borer, and my apples with +codling-moth, curculio, and gouger. I spray with a force-pump; use Paris +green, London purple and Bordeaux mixture for canker-worms and all other +pests. I pick my apples from ladders with care; sort into two +classes--first, all large and sound; second, small and sound; pack them +in eleven-peck barrels as we pick them; fill the barrels full with a +little pressure; mark with variety and grade. I wholesale, retail and +peddle my apples; I evaporate the second and third grades and culls. My +best market is Colorado; I have tried distant markets and found they +paid. I dry apples with a home-made drier, which is quite satisfactory; +after they are dry we pack in fifty-pound boxes, but do not find a ready +market; they pay some years if the quality is good. Am successful in +storing apples in barrels in a stone cellar, and find Winesaps keep +best. I have to repack stored apples, losing about one-sixth or +one-eighth of them. Do not irrigate. Prices have been from fifty cents +to one dollar per bushel; dried apples from five to nine cents, if +fancy. I employ women at fifty cents per day for preparing the +evaporated apples. + + * * * * * + +C. G. WICKERSHAM, Parsons, Labette county: I have lived in Kansas +twenty-six years. Have an apple orchard, the oldest of which are +twenty-seven years. For all purposes I prefer Jonathan, Grimes's Golden +Pippin, and Winesap. I prefer hilltop, with the very best of black soil, +having a north or northwest slope. I prefer two- or three-year-old +medium-sized trees, set in holes dug for them. I cultivate my orchard to +potatoes, using a common cultivator, and cease cropping after ten or +fifteen years; nothing should be planted in a bearing orchard. +Windbreaks are essential; would make them of three to six rows of elms. +We destroy all the rabbits we can. I prune the trees when first set out +to shorten in the limbs; then keep it up every year; it pays big. I do +not thin the fruit on the trees; the wind does it for me; it pays to not +have the trees too full. Makes no material difference whether the trees +are in block of one variety or mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard +with slightly rotted stable litter, and think it pays, and is +beneficial. I would advise its use on all soils, but not as extensively +on rich soils. I pasture my orchard with chickens only; they are a +benefit and pay well. My apples are troubled with codling-moth, +curculio, and bud moth. I spray with London purple, Paris green, and +Bordeaux mixture. I pick my apples by hand, sort in from three to six +grades, and put them on hay in the shade. Pack in one- and +one-and-a-half-bushel packages. I wholesale, retail and peddle a very +little. Give the culls to neighbors who have no apples. Have tried +distant markets, but it did not pay. Home market is best. I do not dry +any. I store some in a frost-proof house. Have to repack stored apples. +I water my orchard frequently. + + * * * * * + +O. W. HECKETHORN, McPherson, McPherson county: I have resided in Kansas +twenty-four years; have an apple orchard of 350 trees; 180 of them are +twelve years old; the balance are younger. For market I prefer Missouri +Pippin and Maiden's Blush; for family use, Maiden's Blush. I prefer a +sandy loam with an east or northeast aspect. I prefer two-year-old, +low-headed trees, planted in rows thirty feet apart. I cultivate my +orchard as long as the weeds grow, and plant a young orchard to corn, +using a small cultivator and disc. Cease cropping after eight or nine +years, and plant nothing in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are essential; +would make them of peach trees planted close together. I have pruned to +shape trees, but do not prune at all now. I do not thin the fruit while +on the trees. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter; I think it +beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils. I do not pasture my +orchard. My trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar, and my apples with +curculio. + + * * * * * + +A. B. MANN, Toronto, Woodson county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-eight +years. Have an apple orchard of fifty trees, twenty years old, twelve +inches in diameter. For all purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, +Jonathan, and Missouri Pippin. My trees are planted on a hilltop, with +north slope, having a black limestone soil. I prefer two-year-old trees, +set in rows twenty feet apart. I cultivate my orchard to sweet corn +until four years old, using a plow and harrow, then cease cropping; put +clover in a bearing orchard. We make windbreaks of Osage orange on the +north side of the orchard. For rabbits I use lath, and dig borers out. I +prune with a chisel and mallet; think it pays. I do not thin the fruit +while on the trees. I do not mix my trees when planting. I fertilize my +orchard between the rows with stable litter; would not advise its use on +all soils. I have pastured my orchard with hogs, but do not think it +advisable, as it does not pay. My trees are troubled with +tent-caterpillar and flathead borer, and my apples with codling-moth. I +do not spray; my neighbors do, without success. I hand-pick my apples. + + * * * * * + +D. W. COZAD, La Cygne, Linn county: I have resided in the state +twenty-five years. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Jonathan, Willow Twig, +and Missouri Pippin, and for family orchard, Early Harvest, Maiden's +Blush, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, and Huntsman's Favorite. Have tried and +discarded Lawver, Yellow Bellflower, Gilpin, and Cooper's Early White, +on account of shy bearing, poor quality, and small size. I would choose +hill for some and valley land for others, according to variety planted; +would prefer southeast aspect with limestone soil and porous subsoil. I +prefer one-year-old trees. I cultivate my orchard to corn and potatoes, +using a surface cultivator and harrow; cease cropping at bearing age and +sow to clover. Windbreaks are essential. I would make them of double +rows of evergreens on the north and west. Protect from rabbits and +borers by "eternal vigilance." I prune with a saw and knife for +symmetry, air, and light, and think it pays. I thin the fruit while on +the trees, at different times; it pays. I fertilize my orchard with +stable litter and clover; would advise its use on all soils. I pasture +my orchard with hogs; think it advisable, and that it pays. My trees are +troubled with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, root aphis, flathead borer, +and woolly aphis; my apples with codling-moth and curculio. I pick my +apples by hand; sort into three classes, sound and large, sound and +small, and culls. I sell apples in the orchard, wholesale, retail, and +peddle. Sell my best apples from the cellar, also second grade. Of the +culls we make cider and feed to the hogs. My best market is at home. I +do not dry any. I am successful in storing apples in barrels in a cellar +and a cave; I find the Gilpin, McAfee, Rawle's Janet and Willow Twig +keep best. I have to repack stored apples before marketing, losing about +one-twentieth of them. I do not irrigate. Prices have been: Summer, +twenty-five to thirty cents; fall, forty to fifty cents; winter sixty to +eighty cents per bushel. I employ men at ten cents an hour. + + * * * * * + +W. M. BARNGROVER, Hamilton, Greenwood county: I have been in Kansas +seventeen years, and have an orchard of 100 apple trees fifteen years +old, twenty-four inches in circumference. For market I prefer Ben Davis, +and for family use Winesap. I prefer bottom land, with a black loam soil +and a red clay subsoil. I prefer two-year-old, low-headed trees, set in +big holes. I cultivate my orchard about every four years with a disc and +harrow, and sow English blue-grass in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are +essential to orchards on the hills; I would make them of a row of maples +between every row of apple trees. For rabbits and borers I paint the +body of the tree with a solution of coal-tar and carbolic acid. I prune +my trees to protect them from the hard winds; always trim the highest +limbs--never the low ones. I fertilize my orchard with about twelve +inches of old hay for four years, and think it should be used on all +soils, as the tree growth will be one-third larger. I pasture my orchard +with calves, and think it advisable and that it pays. My trees are +troubled with leaf-rollers. I spray with Paris green. In picking, I use +a step-ladder and a pole with a hook on the end. On the under side of +the pole I sew a long sack [a canvas tube]; the apples fall in this sack +and roll down to me. I pack in barrels; sell in orchard; use the waste +apples at home. Have tried distant markets; it did not pay. Do not dry +any. I store apples for winter in barrels, and find White Winter +Pearmain keeps best. I have to repack stored apples before marketing; +the loss depends a great deal on the season. I do not irrigate. Prices +have been from thirty cents to one dollar per bushel. Home-dried apples, +four and one-half cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +DAVID LEHMAN, Halstead, Harvey county: I have resided in Kansas nineteen +years; have an orchard of 180 apple trees sixteen years old, eight to +twelve inches in diameter. For market I prefer Winesap, Missouri Pippin, +Ben Davis, and Jonathan, and for family orchard would add Maiden's +Blush. I prefer hilltop with a black loam and an east slope. I prefer +one- or two-year-old trees, two feet tall, with good roots, set thirty +feet apart in rows. I cultivate my orchard to corn for ten years, using +a harrow and five-tooth cultivator very shallow. Cease cropping after +ten years, and plant turnips in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are +essential; would make them of red cedar, ash, or catalpa, by planting +eight by eight feet in rows. I prune my trees when young with a +pruning-knife to get rid of all unnecessary limbs; I think it pays. I +fertilize my orchard with stable litter that will not heat, and would +advise its use on all soils, but lightly on rich soils. I pasture my +orchard with hogs, but do not think it advisable; it does not pay. My +trees are troubled with borers, and my apples with curculio. For insects +not affected by spraying, I use one box of concentrated lye and four +ounces of tincture of tobacco to four gallons of water; wash well with a +swab three times a year--the 15th of June, July, and August. + + * * * * * + +W. W. GARDNER, Chanute, Neosho county: Has lived in Kansas thirteen +years. Has 1000 well-grown trees, set seven years. Prefers for commerce +Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Huntsman's Favorite, and for +family orchard adds Maiden's Blush and Rome Beauty. Prefers north slope, +upland. Plants two-year-olds, with straight centers, at sixteen to +eighteen feet apart, in rows twenty-two to twenty-four feet apart. +Cultivates with two-horse cultivator, often enough to keep the weeds +down; then harrows, aiming to keep the ground mellow. Grows corn from +nine to ten years, then clover; says small grain hurts trees. Thinks +evergreens best for windbreaks, but does not think such protection +essential. Keeps dogs for the rabbits. Prunes with hedge shears, and +says it certainly pays. Believes barn-yard litter beneficial in any +orchard, on any soil. While he thinks pasturing not advisable, and that +it will not pay, he says he will probably pasture in fore part of +seasons with calves, after he has seeded to clover. Sprays with London +purple and lime as soon as canker-worm appears. Is not troubled with +borers. Would irrigate if he could. Has yet had too little fruit to +market. + + * * * * * + +HENRY NEIL, Weir, Cherokee county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-eight +years; have 148 apple trees, from three years old to very large. For +market I use Ben Davis; for family, Early Harvest, Winesap, and +Romanite. I prefer hilltop, with an eastern slope, black loam soil, with +gravelly subsoil. I plant two-year-old thrifty trees, thirty-three feet +apart each way, in the spring. I cultivate until they bear, growing corn +and potatoes, after that grass. I prefer a disc cultivator. I think +windbreaks are a great help; and Osage orange is the best I know of. For +rabbits I tie stalks or wire cloth around the tree. Have never had any +borers. I trim with a saw and knife to take out superfluous wood and +give light, and I think it pays. I never have thinned any. I think +barn-yard fertilizer will pay in the orchard. I pasture my orchard very +little, and think it does not pay. I have never sprayed any, and believe +tent-caterpillar is the worst insect that troubles me. I pick in a sack +tied over my shoulder, and sort into three classes--number one, the very +best; number two, those that are specked; number three, culls. I +generally sell to retailers, at our home market, and make cider of the +culls; never tried a distant market. Have never dried any. I store +sometimes in bulk in a cellar under the house, and find that Winesap and +Romanite keep the best. Prices run from twenty-five cents to one dollar +per bushel, and dried fruit from two and a half to six cents per pound. +I use regular monthly farm help. + + * * * * * + +JOHN A. MAGILL, Roper, Wilson county: I have resided in Kansas +thirty-one years. Have an orchard of 7000 trees, sixteen acres of it +twenty-five years old, and sixty acres six years old. I think Ben Davis +and Missouri Pippin are the best varieties for all purposes. Discarded +the Bellflower because it would not bear. I prefer bottom land with a +north aspect, black soil, and clay subsoil. Plant good one-year-old +trees, 33x20 feet. Cultivate with plow and "gopher." I grow corn and +castor-beans in the orchard as long as it will pay. Believe windbreaks +are necessary, made of anything that will check the wind; would plant +trees on the south and west. Keep rabbits off by wrapping. I prune +enough to keep in shape. I believe it pays to pasture the orchard with +hogs in the winter, and think they get away with canker-worms. I spray +for canker-worm and codling-moth with London purple, and think I have +checked the codling-moth to some extent. I pick and sort by hand in two +classes only--marketable and culls. I wholesale in bulk, make cider of +the culls, and find my best market in Texas. I never dry any; never +store any for winter; have never irrigated. Average price about forty +cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +J. T. COCHRAN, Ottumwa, Lyon county: Have lived in Kansas thirteen +years; my orchard is in Coffey county, and contains 800 trees; 100 have +been planted thirty-five years, and 700 twelve years. I market Winesap, +Ben Davis, and Missouri Pippin, and add to this for family use Jonathan +and some early apples. I prefer ashy bottom land. I would plant trees in +good condition thirty by thirty-five feet. Cultivate in corn about eight +years, then sow to clover. I believe that a windbreak of hedge or +forest-trees should be planted on the southwest, in rows four feet +apart. I prune in fall and winter with a saw, and my experience is that +it makes better fruit. I have never thinned on the tree. Barn-yard +litter scattered through the orchard improves the land. I pasture with +hogs early in spring and late in fall; they eat the refuse apples. Am +troubled with canker-worm, web-worm, and codling-moth. I spray with +London purple and air-slaked lime just as soon as I see the insect, or +as soon as the trees are in bloom. I think I have reduced the +codling-moth. I pick in a sack tied and hung on the shoulder, using a +ladder against the tree. I sort into two classes: No. 1, clear of rot; +No. 2, clear of bruises. Pack in eleven-peck barrels, full and pressed. +I wholesale mostly; suits me best to sell in orchard. The culls and +seconds I sell at home. My best market is Fort Worth, Texas. Freight is +too high to send farther. Never dry any; store in a cellar in barrels +for home use only. Am not always successful. Winesap keeps best. I lose +one-fourth sometimes. Prices range from 70 cents to $1.37 per barrel. I +use good trusty men, at one dollar per day. + + * * * * * + +W. M. FLEEHARTY, La Cygne, Linn county: Have lived in Kansas thirty +years. Have an orchard of 325 trees, mostly thirty years old, twelve to +twenty-four inches in diameter. I prefer for commercial purposes +Winesap, Ben Davis, and Willow Twig, and for family use Winesap, Willow +Twig, Rawle's Janet, and Milam. Have tried and discarded Esopus +Spitzenburg, on account of sun-scald. Prefer hilltop with square-jointed +[?] subsoil, and northeast slope, deep, rich soil. I plant in check +plats. Have tried root grafts. I cultivate until the trees interfere +with working. I plant young orchard to corn and potatoes; bearing +orchard to nothing, and cease cropping when it injures the limbs of the +trees. Windbreaks are essential sometimes, and should be made of Osage +orange, because of its quick growth. I prune when limbs interfere. I +thin apples a little. Do not mix my trees; bees do the work. Fertilizers +are beneficial on all soils. Pasture my orchard with hogs and calves. My +trees are troubled with canker-worm, root aphis, bag-worm, flathead +borer, roundhead borer, woolly aphis, twig borer, fall web-worm, +leaf-roller, leaf-crumpler, and others. My apples are troubled with +codling-moth, curculio, and gouger. Spray when the blossoms are open, +with Bordeaux mixture; have not reduced the codling-moth. I use the +knife on borers and insects that are not affected by spraying. Sort into +two classes; have both perfect. Sell in the orchard sometimes. Store +some apples for winter market; have not tried artificial cold storage. +We have to repack stored apples before marketing, losing one to ten per +cent. The prevailing price has been sixty cents per bushel. I employ men +at from fifteen to eighteen dollars per month. + + * * * * * + +F. L. KENOYER, Independence, Montgomery county: I have lived in the +state ten years, and have an apple orchard of 240 trees from three to +nine years old. For market I prefer Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, and Ben +Davis, and for family use add Maiden's Blush. I prefer hilltop with a +sandy loam and a porous subsoil. I prefer two-year-old, low-headed +trees, with plenty of roots. I plant them one rod north and south, and +two rods east and west. I will cultivate my orchard as long as the trees +live with a Planet jr. twelve-tooth cultivator. I plant strawberries in +a bearing orchard; they are as good as clover. Windbreaks would be +beneficial; I would make them of Osage orange. For rabbits I rub blood +on the trees. I dig the borers out with a knife and wire. I prune very +little, with the pruning shears, to remove watersprouts and interlocking +limbs. It preserves their symmetry, but does not make them more +fruitful. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees; the wind does it +for me. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard with +stable litter between the trees. It is very beneficial, and I would +advise its use on all soils excepting very rich bottoms, where it would +cause too much wood growth at the expense of the fruit. I do not pasture +my orchard; it is not advisable. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, +tent-caterpillar, root aphis, roundhead borer, and leaf-crumpler, and my +apples with codling-moth and curculio. I am successful in spraying, +using London purple with a pump when the canker-worms appear, and a few +days afterward. For root-lice I remove the earth from around the trees +and pour in tobacco water. I do not dry any. I do not irrigate. Prices +have been forty cents for apples in the fall, one dollar per bushel +during the winter, while home-grown lasted, and two dollars per bushel +now (April). Dried apples sold for five to ten cents per pound, +according to quality. + + * * * * * + +J. H. BILSING, Udall, Cowley county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-seven +years. Have an orchard of sixty apple trees from sixteen to twenty-six +years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Limber Twig, Jonathan, and +Grimes's Golden Pippin, and for family use Jonathan, Grimes's Golden +Pippin, Red June, and Maiden's Blush. Have tried and discarded Big +Romanite; it is a good grower but a poor bearer. I prefer bottom land +with sandy loam and clay subsoil, and a north slope. Prefer thrifty +two-year-old trees, set in land which has been plowed as deeply as +possible, and the soil loosened fifteen to eighteen inches by digging. +My trees are set 30x30 feet; this is a little too wide north and south. +I am still cultivating my first planting of trees, use a plow, harrow, +and cultivator. Plant corn in a young orchard, and cease cropping after +eight or ten years. Windbreaks are essential; would make them of peach +groves for quick growth, or for slower and surer growth would make them +of several rows of Osage orange or ash, set fifteen to sixteen feet east +and west by breaking rows. I prune my trees from the beginning with a +pocket-knife; think it pays. Do not thin the fruit on the trees. +Fertilize my orchard with ashes and stable litter; think it beneficial, +as it keeps the ground from packing, and also keeps the trees vigorous; +would not advise its use on very sandy soils. Do not pasture my orchard; +am going to try it with young pigs and calves. My trees are troubled +with root aphis and borers, and my apples with codling-moth, curculio, +and gouger. Have sprayed three seasons, soon after the blossom fell and +until the apples were the size of marbles, using London purple; think I +killed the first brood of codling-moth, but a later brood came which +hurt the fruit. + + * * * * * + +F. H. BURNETT, Benedict, Wilson county: I have lived in the state +fifteen years. Have 2200 apple trees six years old, of fair size. +Planted for market Gano, Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Jonathan, and +for family use Jonathan, Winesap, Gano, Early Harvest, and Maiden's +Blush. Bottom land is best in this locality. I prefer soil somewhat +clayish, underlaid with limestone, with a north or east slope. Prefer +good one- and two-year-old, stocky, low-headed trees. Would plant on +upland twenty by thirty-two feet, and on rich bottom twenty-four by +thirty-six feet. I believe in thorough cultivation, and during the first +two years I use the hoe. I cultivate until five or six years old, +usually growing corn, as it protects the trees from the strong south +winds. I then sow to clover, changing every two or three years to +castor-beans or corn. Trees planted close north and south form their own +windbreaks. For rabbits, wrap the trees. I prune a little to keep the +trees from getting too heavy on the north side. I should thin Missouri +Pippins to keep from overbearing. I should use sawdust and barn-yard +fertilizer on hard-pan spots. I allow no live stock in the orchard but +poultry. Am troubled some with leaf-rollers and canker-worm. I spray as +soon as the leaves start, for canker-worm and leaf-roller, using one +pound of London purple to 120 gallons of water. For borers, keep the +trees thrifty; borers cannot thrive, as the sap will kill them. I +believe it would be well during the first two years to wash the trees +with a solution of soft soap, coal-oil, and water, in May and June. I +sort in first, second, and cider or culls; pack in three-bushel barrels +so full they cannot bruise. I expect to put in an evaporator and use +natural gas for fuel, and think it will pay. I recommend subsoiling to +retain moisture. Prices have ranged here from thirty to fifty cents per +bushel. + + * * * * * + +F. S. HALL, Fulton, Bourbon county: Has lived in Kansas fourteen years. +Have 10,000 apple trees from two to eight years old. For commercial +purposes the Ben Davis and Arkansas Black are doing best. Will not plant +any more Missouri Pippins. My orchard is on a hill, with northeast +slope, black soil, set thirty-three feet east and west and sixteen feet +north and south. Set one- and two-year-old well-branched trees. +Cultivate entirely with a disc, and allow nothing to grow within six +feet of the trees. Grow only clover, and expect to grow only clover in +my orchard. Think an Osage hedge a good windbreak. Use tar paper and +traps against rabbits. Prune nothing above twenty inches from the +ground. Never thinned apples on trees. Fertilize with ashes and all the +manure I can get, and turn under clover. Think such fertilizers +beneficial for apples on all soils. Opposed to pasturing an orchard. Not +much troubled with insects. Spray before and after blooming, first with +Bordeaux mixture, then sulphate of copper and either Paris green or +London purple. Think I have reduced the codling-moth by this method. +Keep down borers by cultivation and a wash of lime, concentrated lye, +and carbolic acid. + + * * * * * + +R. N. MARK, Strawn, Coffey county: Have lived in Kansas thirty years. +Have an orchard of twelve acres; trees twelve years old. For commercial +purposes I prefer Winesap and Ben Davis. Timber bottom is best. I +cultivate my orchard to corn and potatoes, and cease cropping when ten +or twelve years old; plant potatoes in a bearing orchard. Windbreaks are +essential on the south; would make them of forest-trees. To protect from +rabbits I wrap young trees, or kill rabbits, cut open, and rub +thoroughly on the tree. I prune my trees to give proper shape, and think +it beneficial, especially on poor land, as it makes the trees more +productive. Do not thin fruit on the trees. I pasture my orchard +carefully with hogs and calves at any time when it is not wet. Trees are +troubled with canker-worm. I spray early and often with London purple. I +pick my apples in sacks from ladders. The shipper [buyer] sorts from +barrels in orchard. I sell my first grade in the orchard; also second- +and third-grade apples in the orchard. We sell the culls. Do not dry +any; does not pay. I store very few. Average price of apples is fifty +cents per bushel. + + * * * * * + +W. M. FRENCH, Chicopee, Crawford county: I have resided in the state +eighteen years. Have an apple orchard of 200 trees twelve years old, +averaging six inches in diameter. For market I prefer Ben Davis, +Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Willow Twig, and Jonathan; and for family +orchard would add Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, and Rambo. Have tried +and discarded Limber Twig; it does not mature. I prefer bottom with an +eastern or northern slope, having a good deep soil with a clay subsoil. +I prefer three-year-old, stocky trees, set in holes dug 3x3 feet and +2-1/2 feet deep, filled with surface soil. I cultivate my orchard to +corn as long as I can without injuring the trees, and use a plow; avoid +ridging too much. I cease cropping after nine to twelve years. I sow the +bearing orchard to millet or something to be mowed. Windbreaks are not +essential, but think they would be beneficial; would make them of +catalpa or maples, set in two or three rows on north, south and west +sides. I prune my trees with a saw to keep the top from getting too +heavy; I think it beneficial, and that it pays. Shall not thin my fruit +this year. I can see no difference whether trees are in blocks of one +kind or mixed. I fertilize my orchard with stable litter, putting it in +trenches between the trees; I avoid putting it around them. I think it +has proven beneficial, and would advise its use on all soils, unless +very rich and the tree growth very strong. I pasture my orchard a little +with calves, but do not think it advisable. My trees are troubled with +tent-caterpillar. I do not spray. I hand-pick in a basket from a +step-ladder. I sort into two classes, and wholesale, retail, and peddle. +The home market takes all my best apples; the culls are fed to hogs and +made into cider. Never have tried distant markets. Do not dry any. Am +successful at storing apples in bulk in a cellar; find Ben Davis, +Winesap, Willow Twig and Rawle's Janet keep best. I do not irrigate. +Prices have been from fifty cents to one dollar per bushel. + + * * * * * + +J. C. ROSS, Havana, Montgomery county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-seven +years; have an orchard of 100 apple trees twenty-three years old. I +prefer for all purposes Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap. Have +tried and discarded Rawle's Janet and Romanite. I prefer low land at +foot of hills, with deep loam subsoil and a medium slope. I set my trees +twenty feet apart. I cultivate in oats and corn up to bearing with +common twelve-inch stirring plow. Windbreaks are essential on north; +would make them of Osage orange planted in rows. Rabbits are hard to +contend with; for borers I use a solution of slaked lime. I prune with a +saw; do not think it very beneficial, as the rain gets in, and the wood +decays. I never thin apples. My trees are in mixed varieties. I mulch my +trees with straw, and think it beneficial. I pasture with calves and +hogs; do not think it advisable; it does not pay. Am somewhat troubled +with insects; I spray with a solution of coal-oil, using a small pump; +think I have reduced the codling-moth. For borers I dissolve lime to a +paste in water, and apply to the roots with a scrub broom. I pick my +fruit from ladders. I sort into three classes: first, second, and third. +I use common barrels to pack the fruit in; mark, and send by freight to +near-by markets. I wholesale sometimes, and sometimes sell in orchard; +market my best apples at near-by towns; I make cider and vinegar of +culls. I dry some fruit; use a large pan filled with hot water; then put +in sacks and boxes. I find a ready market; think it pays. I store some +apples in a cellar in large, open boxes, and in bulk. Some rot; those +that keep best are Winesap, Rawle's Janet, and Romanite. We have to sort +stored apples before marketing them; we lose from one-fourth to +one-third of them. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from fifty cents +to one dollar per bushel. I use any kind of help I can get, and pay +seventy-five cents per day. + + * * * * * + +J. K. P. HOUSE, Cloverdale, Chautauqua county. I have lived in Kansas +twenty-seven years, and have 250 large trees, planted twenty-six years. +I prefer for commercial orchard Ben Davis, and for family orchard +Dominie, Early Harvest, Rhode Island Greening, and Grimes's Golden +Pippin. I prefer bottom land, with a black loam and clay subsoil, with +north slope. I plant two-year-old, medium-top trees, in well-cultivated +ground, and mix the top soil with the roots. I have tried root grafts, +but not satisfactory. I cultivate shallow every year, using the +cultivator after the tree is grown. I grow oats in a young orchard, but +nothing in a bearing orchard, and cease cropping when about eight years +old. Windbreaks are essential on high ground. I would make them of +walnut trees planted in rows. I never thinned the fruit. My trees are in +mixed plantings, and prove satisfactory. I do not fertilize, and would +only advise it on high land. I pasture my orchard with hogs, and think +it advisable. My trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar, bagworm and +roundhead borer. I pick in a sack swung around the neck. I sell fruit in +the orchard, and make cider of the culls. My best market is at home; but +I have shipped to distant markets. It paid in an early day. I have dried +some apples in the sun, then heat and pack in barrels, and find a ready +market for them, but it does not pay. I store some fruit for home use, +and find that Winesap and White Winter Pearmain keep best. I have never +tried artificial cold storage. I do not irrigate. Prices have been from +$1 to $1.50 per bushel, and for dried fruit six to eight and one-third +cents per pound. + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM BURDEN, Leeds, Chautauqua county: Have been in Kansas twenty-one +years. Have 400 apple trees from eight to twenty years old. I prefer for +commercial orchards Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, and Winesap, and for +family orchard Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush, and Jonathan. Have tried +and discarded Willow Twig, Rawle's Janet, and Russet. I prefer limestone +bottom land, with north slope. I plant twenty-eight by thirty feet, +using two-year-old trees. I cultivate eight years with plow and +cultivator. I grow corn among young trees, clover in a bearing orchard, +and cease cropping after eight years. Need no windbreaks. Wrap trees +with corn-stalks to keep off rabbits. I prune to keep down watersprouts +and limbs from rubbing; I think it beneficial. Never thin the fruit on +the trees. Have not tried mixed plantings of trees. I do not fertilize. +I pasture my orchard with horses, but do not think it advisable. My +trees are troubled with root aphis, roundhead borer and leaf-roller. Do +not spray. I pick fruit by hand. I sell mostly to farmers living farther +west; sometimes sell in the orchard and sometimes retail. Make vinegar +of culls. Never tried distant markets; never dry any. Store some apples +in cave in boxes; am successful; find that Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin +and Winesap keep best. Do not irrigate. Prevailing price, thirty cents +per bushel; five cents per pound for dried apples. + + * * * * * + +EBERT SIMON, Welda, Anderson county: Have lived in Kansas thirty-one +years; have 300 apple trees, fifteen inches in diameter, twenty years +old. I prefer for commercial orchard Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, +Winesap, and Gano; and for family orchard Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and +Jonathan. I prefer hilltop, with black loam and porous subsoil, with +north slope. I plant three-year-old whole-root grafts. I cultivate in +corn for five years with one-horse cultivator; seed a bearing orchard to +clover. Windbreaks are essential on the south. I prune with the saw to +let the sun in, and think it beneficial. Never have thinned apples. I +sometimes use stable litter as a fertilizer, but would not advise its +use on all soils. Sometimes I pasture my orchard with hogs and horses, +and think it advisable. I hand-pick my apples. I sell in the orchard, +peddle the second and third grades, make vinegar of culls, and feed some +to hogs; never tried distant markets. Never dry any. Prices have been +from $1 to $1.50 per barrel. + + + + +A SUMMARY OF THE FOREGOING DISTRICT REPORTS. + + +Ben Davis is the leading market apple, followed closely by Missouri +Pippin. These two lead all others, and are followed by Winesap and +Jonathan. Rawle's Janet, York Imperial, Huntsman's Favorite, Grimes's +Golden Pippin and Maiden's Blush are also favorites. We find the Yellow +Bellflower, Newtown Pippin, Lawver and a few others are condemned all +over the state. + +In the eastern third of the state hilltop or slope is preferred to +bottom land, but in the central and western portions bottom land is +preferred. The reason for this is obvious. Any good soil is +satisfactory, if subsoil is porous. + +The favorite distance seems to be thirty-two feet east and west and +sixteen to twenty feet north and south, some putting peach or +early-bearing apples between, the wide way, to be cut out when they +crowd. This undoubtedly brings the quickest returns, but many believe it +robs the permanent trees of their future sustenance. + +Twenty-four prefer one-year-old trees; 7 one to two years old; 153 +two-year-old; 10 two- to three-year-old; 21 three-year-old; 3 want +four-year-old, and 59 give no age. It is only a matter of cost and +convenience. A one-year-old tree costs less and allows the would-be +orchardist to set more trees for a given amount of cash. The one- and +two-year-old trees require the removal of less earth, and are more +readily handled and planted. There is no reason why an apple tree three +inches in diameter cannot be transplanted as easily as an elm or maple. +A man is willing to set a few large shade-trees at a cost of one dollar +to five dollars per tree, but cannot feel that it is economy to set +orchard trees at as great individual expense. + +"Whole-root grafts" is a misleading appellation, as it will be found to +be only a crown graft. Its advocates make great claims that are at +variance with the facts. There can scarcely be such a thing unless +grafted on a seedling without removal of such seedling from the earth. +Our best nurserymen prefer the second cut, about one and one-half to +three inches taken from the seedling root a couple of inches below the +crown. In any case the piece of root taken has little influence on the +future tree. All our ordinary varieties make roots from the scion, and +the original seedling root may be found--like the piece of potato we +plant--shriveled and useless in the midst of the new roots. The nature +of the root growth shows this plainly, as all its peculiarities will be +found to be a counterpart of the roots of the variety from which the +scion was cut. It is folly to pay any added price for so-called +"whole-root grafts." + +A very great majority believe in thorough cultivation, at least for from +six to ten years; some during the life of the tree. Nearly all agree +that Indian corn is the best crop to grow in a young orchard; it shades +the ground, and protects from wind. The corn in a young orchard should +not be cut in the fall, neither should the stalks be pastured; let them +stand till spring as a partial protection; it pays. + +Many parts of the state, especially the western half, believe windbreaks +on the south and west very valuable, if not quite necessary. +Forest-trees with the outside row or rows of Russian mulberries, and +perhaps an Osage orange hedge, seem to meet the general opinion. + +As a protection from rabbits, the ever-present corn-stalks seem most +economical, and the favorite. The cost is little, and the boys and +girls, or the farmer and his wife, at odd times can put them on. It is +an open question as to the benefit or harm of leaving them on +permanently for the first five years. It looks slovenly, but certainly +has many arguments in its favor. + +The serio-comic idea of boring into an apple tree and placing therein +sulphur, asafetida or other drugs does not really deserve a serious +thought. It is impossible for the tree to assimilate these substances, +especially sulphur, and carry them to the foliage or fruit for +preventive or any other purpose. Boring and plugging--like any other +threatened death to the tree--may cause temporary fruitfulness, as also +will girdling. + +While several washes are claimed to prevent or destroy borers, the large +majority of extensive orchardists believe the knife and a hooked wire in +the hands of a thoroughgoing employee the best and surest way of knowing +that you destroy the larva of this persistent and destructive insect. + +Smearing trees with any undiluted grease, especially axle grease made +from petroleum refuse, is hazardous, and the man who advises it is an +enemy to your orchard. If you have applied it, the sooner you wash it +off the longer will your orchard thrive. + +Pruning has its advocates, but the Eastern style of a long stem has +scarcely a follower in our state; a great majority simply cut out +"watersprouts" and limbs that cross or rub, or are wind-broken. + +Thinning on the trees has many advocates, but few followers. All admit +it would often improve the size and quality, yet most growers believe +the difference would not be sufficient to pay for the labor, and it +would require skilled labor to do it without injury. + +A large number, perhaps a majority, believe it pays to apply +fertilizers, more especially barn-yard litter, to the orchard; but cases +are known where it has done much harm. All agree that it should be kept +away from the body of the tree. + +As to pasturing the orchard, some think it pays; others that it does no +harm; others still--and they are many--condemn it. The larger proportion +of those who pasture confine the stock to calves, colts, and pigs. Some +would allow only poultry in the orchard, and the poultry must not roost +in the trees. This latter point is an excellent one. + +We find we have plenty of insects; this is natural. Insects settle in a +country that provides proper food for them and their larva. As apple +trees are planted in new localities the insects that delight in +apple-tree wood, apple-tree roots, apple-tree foliage and apple-tree +fruits immigrate, grow, and multiply. + +Spraying or using some preventive or destroyer has become necessary, and +the man who believes it unnecessary and intends to trust to nature or +providence or God will find no truer saying than "God helps those who +help themselves." Sit down calmly and watch the worms eat your trees, +trust to the woodpecker and the sparrows, and you will in time buy +apples from your more active, thoroughgoing neighbor, or go without. + +Methods of picking do not vary much, yet all agree that it should be +done carefully. If shaken from the tree, poured out carelessly, or +jolted about in a lumber wagon, it simply increases the culls and +decreases the cash returns. + +Sorting is done in various ways (a sorting table or device is explained +elsewhere), but a majority seem to make three classes: First class, the +unblemished best of each variety; culls, which are the unmarketable, +specked, bruised and gnarled fruit; second class, which are between the +other two, and really valuable for immediate use. In some cases the +"second best" have been put in cold storage, and they sold well after +the usual fall glut. + +Packing: While there are many who handle in a small way in boxes--and +the time is near when all fancy apples will be marketed in boxes--yet +all the larger growers use barrels, and it is encouraging to find they +use full twelve-peck barrels. The eleven-peck barrels should be +boycotted out of existence. + +Marketing: In our large apple-growing districts the crop is generally +wholesaled, either in the orchard or subject to delivery at the +railroad, generally in barrels. In the western half of the state the +apples are largely taken in bulk, in wagons, hauled farther west and +south, and sold at a good profit to the wagoner. Thousands of +wagon-loads are thus disposed of every year. The same wagons often +appear in the same neighborhood year after year, to the mutual advantage +of all. Shipping to distant markets by the growers, especially when +consigned, has been generally unsatisfactory. I need not give reasons; +my own experience along similar lines makes me "hot under the hat" when +I think over it. + +Drying is not practiced to the extent that it ought to be. It seems +almost a sin to allow so many thousands of bushels of apples to rot on +the ground every year simply because the owner lacks faith in his +ability to turn them into a product that will keep while he looks up a +market. Dried apples are in demand--hundreds of tons of them--and Kansas +dried apples stand as good chances to bring as remunerative prices to +the manufacturer as those from other states. If the work is economically +done a profit is sure. Storing for winter is described elsewhere. + +Cold storage, cave storage, and cellar storage: All know that, after the +perishable and inferior apples are gone, good winter apples bring sure +and large returns. How best to preserve them is a vital question. The +art of keeping apples by the artificial cold-storage process is yet +imperfect and unsatisfactory, and the losses have been so great that, +unless the owner of the plant will take part of the risk, at least to +the extent of his fee, he will find the average grower standing back. To +lose your apples, and then pay fifty cents per barrel to the man whose +ignorance or carelessness may have caused the loss, is a burden too +heavy to be borne. The hillside cave is described elsewhere, and the +orchardist who has such a cave well built, and gives it careful +attention, will save a large portion of the fee, and have his apples +always under his own supervision, besides saving in hauling, and perhaps +railroad freight to and from a distant cold-storage plant. House +cellars, small caves and buried heaps each and all have their advocates, +mostly for family use or among the small growers. + +It seems to be determined that the Winesap is the better keeper, +followed closely by the Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis. Of less +marketable varieties, Rawle's Janet and Rambo seem to keep best. The per +cent. of loss, excepting in a few cases, does not seem great considering +the (usually) greatly increased value of the sound apples. + +The reports from those who irrigate are not as full as we could wish. It +is claimed that with irrigation every apple becomes a perfect specimen +of its kind; that there are no culls. If this is so, and we hope it is, +what a grand opening for those rightly situated. + +Our Lakin correspondent sells his apples at top prices at the tree for +cash, to men who could but do not heed the injunction, "Go thou and do +likewise." Prices, like wages, vary greatly. Apples put on board cars in +a northeastern county at twenty cents per bushel often retail in western +groceries at one dollar per bushel. The railroad and grocer get the +"lion's share." + +On the whole, a close study of all that is in this book ought to give an +impetus to the planting of proper varieties, the careful and complete +destruction of insects, the growing, picking, packing and marketing of +more profitable apples, all to the glory of the Kansas grower and +incidentally swelling his bank account. This means better dwellings, +better furniture therein, better food on the tables, better education +for the children, and more and better literature in the house. If these +aims are realized, then the labor of the compiler shall not have been in +vain, but will prove to be a help in making Kansas and the Kansas apple +known throughout the whole world. + + + + +MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES RELATING TO ORCHARDS. + + +APPLE CULTURE. + + A paper read by JACOB GOOD, of Coffeyville, Kan., before the Kansas + State Horticultural Society, at a summer meeting in Coffeyville, + June 22, 1898. + +Beginning in the early Roman period, the apple has been handed down +through the successive ages as the standard fruit. True, the hard, +bitter, uneatable crab or wild apple of former times was not much like +the tempting apple of to-day; yet it is the parent of all, or nearly +all, the varieties of apples so much prized at the present time. From +its great hardiness, easy cultivation, and long continuance through the +whole twelve months, it may be styled the "king" of all fruits. The +apple tree is now one of the most widely diffused of fruit-trees, and in +the estimation of many is the most valuable. But what has brought about +this great change in tree and fruit? The same cause which makes the man +of America or Europe superior to the tribes of northern Africa or India. +The same cause by which the most wonderful inventions of any age have +been placed before the public, viz., cultivation and constant attention. +Having made these questions a study for twenty-five years or more, and +having gathered all the points possible from the experience of the +fruit-growers with whom we have come in contact, we have become +thoroughly convinced that the growth of a perfect fruit is possible in +this climate. One of the main difficulties in a general fruit-growing +business is encountered in a hard subsoil--too hard when it is dry and +too soft and yielding when wet. Deep and thorough draining is therefore +a great requisite in tree culture. + +The next step would be the means for securing plenty of moisture. We +would first open trenches each way not less than twenty-five feet apart. +They should be thrown out as deep as can be done with a plow, then +followed by subsoiler twelve to eighteen inches deep. Draw the surface +earth back into the crosses creating a mound. Plant the trees there and +fill up the ditches by back-furrowing, and bring the land to a perfect +level. It will not pay to plant trees on hard-pan soil without +preparation. It is better to avoid the hard-pan altogether, and select a +deep, rich subsoil. Trees planted in river bottoms have been known to be +vigorous and productive after twenty-five years; while those on the +prairie hard-pan planted at the same time have entirely disappeared. The +best time for planting is in November, in order that the fiber roots may +be ready for the first warm days of February. Nice, healthy trees, from +two to three years old, should be selected; cut the tops back and trim +off most of the fiber roots. The reason for cutting the tops back is to +make the tree more productive, more easily harvested, and to aid in +keeping off the tree borers, of which we will speak later. Our orchards +should not be allowed to grow up in waste and neglect, neither should +they be planted in those things which sap the life of the soil and +leave nothing to sustain the tree. One of the main causes of +non-productiveness of the apple orchard is land starvation. An orchard +cannot produce fruit in addition to a crop of wheat, oats, rye, etc.; +and so, if a man continues to take off crops of these every year, he +simply does it at the expense of his trees. There are crops, however, +which may be used with good effect, such as corn, peas, hay, potatoes, +etc. In this the owner gets the profit of his fruit and also the use of +his land. Yet, with all our care of the soil, minuteness in following +directions as to setting out and trimming, etc., there are other +difficulties still to overcome. + +Many kinds of insects may infest the trunks and larger branches of the +trees. Among them are the apple-tree louse, round- and flathead borers, +San Jose scale, canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, etc. I would name the +borers and San Jose scale [None yet found in the state.--Sec.] as being +the worst of the pests with which to contend. The borers attack the +trunks and larger limbs of the trees; they seek the sunny side of the +tree, not being found where the sap is abundant or where there is a +continual shade. Under the first they drown, and under the last they +weaken and die. This is a strong argument in favor of low heading and +shady growth of the trees. The parent of the borer, a long, green or +pale brown beetle, may be caught and destroyed, but it is not to be +presumed that all the beetles can be caught; it becomes necessary to +examine the trees quite often, in order to destroy the worms hatched +from the eggs of the uncaptured beetles. To detect the spots which +indicate the whereabouts of these worms is, to the inexperienced, quite +a difficult undertaking; for during the spring, and until quite late in +the summer, there are no external marks save a small speck, or perhaps a +dark blue line so fine that it will not attract the attention of those +not understanding the cause. When they are first detected a sharp knife +may be used to remove them, but if they have entered the wood, about the +only way of removing them is by means of a probe made of common broom +wire, with which to thrust them through or drag them out of their holes. + +The San Jose scale, a native of Australia, was first found on the +American continent in California in 1873. It has not troubled Kansas +yet, but it is quite prevalent in the Western States, and, as it spreads +rapidly, it is much feared. Its detection is almost the work of a +specialist, yet there are a few general characteristics which may be +detected by the naked eye; for instance, the bark of the tree loses its +vigorous, healthy appearance, and takes on a rough, gray, scurfy +deposit. As yet I have heard of no permanent cure. Spraying has a great +deal to do with keeping off the insects--of which the canker-worm is +getting to be one of the worst--from the upper branches of the trees. It +is a mistake to think that a tree should not be sprayed because it has +not been infested by any insect or fungous growth. The attacks of both +are often unnoticed at first, and the man who is not prepared for them +often neglects spraying until it is too late to save the crop of that +year. + +My experience in regard to the varieties of apples grown has been quite +varied. My first orchard, in 1871, did well; I took great pains in +setting it out, and for five years there were none of the injurious +insects which make us so much trouble. In my second orchard, ten years +later, I made great mistakes in the varieties I chose, some of them not +being adapted to either soil or climate. By the time I set my third +orchard, six years from then, my experience had taught me that the +varieties which were best for home and commercial purposes, and which +were best adapted to both the soil and climate, were the Ben Davis, +Missouri Pippin, and Mother, and in these varieties I planted most of my +orchard. The habits of the Ben Davis and Missouri Pippin are too well +known to need further description. In my orchard I found them both +short-lived. My Ben Davis began to die out at twenty years, and a very +few reached the age of twenty-six. The Mother is an apple not so well +known. It originated at Bolton, Mass. Tree is moderately vigorous, +upright, and productive; one of the best apples on the list there, and I +consider it equally so here. Thomas, the American fruit culturist, in +his description of the apple, says it is rather large, oblong, ovate, +approaching conical; slightly and obtusely ribbed; color a light, warm, +rich red, on a yellow ground; moderately juicy, rich, very mild subacid, +with a mixture of sweet. Growth slow; late autumnal and early winter. +However, it ripens earlier in this climate; follows the Maiden's Blush. +Downing says no orchard is complete without it. + +While the Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin and Mother are my favorites for +productiveness, we have other varieties that are quite productive and +long-lived trees, such as the Early Margaret or Striped June, that is an +annual and profuse bearer and one of our earliest. Duchess of Oldenburg +has never failed with me. Maiden's Blush has given good success. We have +the Romanite, Rawle's Janet and Limber Twig that are good keepers, but +owing to size are not desirable for home use or market. I find more +complaint of the Ben Davis than any other apple, though its beauty +invariably causes it to sell. My greatest mistake in planting was in +selecting Rhode Island Greening and Nonsuch, which have proven almost +non-bearers. The trees are healthy and grow almost like an elm or oak. A +number of varieties, such as the Mammoth Black Twig, Arkansas Black, +Muklen, Rome Beauty, I have not fruited, and cannot tell as to their +qualities in this locality. In all my experience in the apple line I +find that no orchard will grow and bear without attention, and constant +attention at that. The apple tree requires as much interest from its +owner as cattle do from the stock-raiser. From a tiny seed, it is +subject to disease and pests which, if not destroyed, will destroy it. I +would say in conclusion that success in apple raising comes only through +eternal vigilance. + + +ORCHARD CULTURE. + + By JAMES McNICOL, Lost Springs, Marion county, Kansas. + +Orchard culture being my subject, of course the varieties of trees are +supposed to be carefully selected and planted; but the distance apart is +important. If too close, no matter how thorough the cultivation, they +will suffer for moisture; and if too wide apart the winds will play +havoc with the trees and fruit. What is best for this locality, to break +the prevailing south winds and yet have plenty of space for the roots to +find moisture? Is it better to plant closely north and south or east and +west? I would prefer close rows running east and west, as each row would +help break the wind when the trees in the row reached each other--then +how close in the row and how far apart the rows? I would plant the trees +twenty feet apart in the rows and the rows thirty feet apart. I would +like to recommend planting a row of cherry, dwarf pear, plum or peach +between each apple row, provided they are cut out when they rob each +other of moisture. + +Eternal vigilance is the price of fruit, but, in central Kansas, to +eternal vigilance you must add thorough cultivation. For a few years +cultivated crops may be grown, leaving a good space next to the trees to +be cultivated--not to grow up in weeds. Do not, like one of my +neighbors, cultivate the corn row, that cost only about five cents a row +for seed, four times, and leave the tree row, which cost two dollars per +row, uncultivated. Do not use a stirring plow; it will hill up earth +around the trees too much. With a lister you can list in your corn or +furrow out potato rows, running east and west one year, and north and +south the next. Growing crops for five or six years is long enough; then +cultivation should be done with a disc, an Acme or a common harrow; I +prefer a reversible disc. Acme is all right if you do not let the weeds +get the start of you (which you should never do, but you will +sometimes); then the disc is the implement. + +Whatever tool you use keep it a going, east, west, and diagonal, and +when blessed with a good rain through the summer don't wait till the +weeds get started, but cultivate as soon as dry enough to form a dust +mulch. Few seem to know the value of a dust mulch. A high state of +cultivation can be kept up in the orchard with what implements the +farmer has. Use the one-horse, five-tooth cultivator close to the trees, +and the two-horse cultivator for the middle, going both ways; then +pulverize with the harrow; use the harrow often. Six days' work at the +proper time will keep a five-acre orchard in good shape the whole +season. "But," says some one, "it doesn't pay; this is not a fruit +country." No, it is no fruit country, and never will be, to the one who +has no time to cultivate; but to the one that will there is a big +reward, for the very reason that it is not a fruit country. + + +ORCHARD TREATMENT. + + A paper read before the Kansas Horticultural Society, by W. D. + CELLAR, of Edwardsville, Kan. + +A wide difference of opinion prevails as to the proper distance apart +for apple trees, some growers maintaining that forty feet is close +enough, while others plant as close as fifteen feet. With varieties that +come into bearing early, planting close in the row north and south, with +the intention of cutting out every other tree when they are large enough +to crowd, may be good husbandry. Two or three crops might be secured +before it would be necessary to cut out the extra trees. The objections +are, that the orchard cannot be so thoroughly cultivated, and the drain +necessary to grow the extra trees might so debilitate the soil as to +seriously affect succeeding crops. One grower says: "I am satisfied it +will pay in the short run, but it remains to be seen whether it will pay +in the long run." In this section, where we have so much wind and +sunshine, twenty-five to thirty feet seems to be the proper distance for +apple trees, fifteen feet for plums, and fifteen by twenty feet for +peach and cherry, and twenty feet for pear trees. Upland is thought +better than river bottom for orchards, and a north or east slope is +chosen for apples. + +A difference in location is required for different varieties of apples. +A vigorous-growing variety will do well on the thin soil of the hills, +while a variety deficient in root vigor, which might be profitable in +deep soil, would not thrive on the hilltops. I gathered this year from +eight-year-old Missouri Pippin trees, planted in the deep soil of a +creek bottom, five bushels of apples to the tree, while Missouri Pippins +in the same orchard, on the hilltops, planted at the same time and +having the same treatment, yielded scarcely a bushel to the tree. In the +same orchard Jonathans yielded about as well on the hill as in the +valley. I would not choose an exposed north or northwest slope for +peaches or cherries. Better an east, or even a south slope. Professor +Whitten, of the Missouri State Agricultural College, has recommended +whitening peach trees in winter by spraying with lime to prevent +premature swelling of the buds. + +In my locality the best varieties of apples, from a commercial +standpoint, are Ben Davis, Jonathan, and Missouri Pippin. More Kieffer +and Duchess pears are planted than any other kind. The leading peaches +are Elberta, Old Mixon Free, Stump, Champion, Smock, and Salway. The +most profitable plum is the Wild Goose. Some of the Japans, Abundance +and Burbank promise well. Of cherries, Dyehouse, Early Richmond, +Montmorency, English Morello and Ostheim make a succession in the order +named, and are the best for either a family or commercial orchard. + +Cultivation of the orchard for the first few years is deemed absolutely +necessary to success, but it is a serious problem how to cultivate the +hills, and at the same time keep them from washing into the hollows and +so denuding the roots of the trees at the top. I know one orchard in +which a back furrow has been thrown to each tree row in the same +direction for several years, leaving a dead furrow (which has become a +ditch) between the rows. It looks like a field of huge sweet-potato +rows, with the trees standing on tripods or "quadrapeds" at the top of +the ridges. Neither back furrow nor dead furrow should be made in the +tree row. As few dead furrows as possible should be left. They should be +frequently changed, and should never run up and down the hill. If +ditches have started, they cannot be stopped by plowing them full of +earth; the loose soil will wash out at the first rain. Fill them with +old hay, straw, stalks, or brush. Old raspberry or blackberry canes are +excellent for this purpose. Begin at the bottom and work up the hill, +letting the forkfuls overlap like shingles. Drive a stake through at +frequent intervals, and secure firmly at the top; else a hard freshet +will wash it all out. Deep ditches may be filled by dams of loose stone +a rod or two apart. On many farms these stones need to be gathered +anyway, and one may "kill two birds with one stone" by filling a big +ditch with a good many stones. "An ounce of prevention, however, is +worth a pound of cure," and the best prevention from washing that I know +of is clover. I would advise seeding a hill orchard as soon as the trees +have had a year or two of vigorous growth. The orchard may be cultivated +after the spring rains, and seeded again in time to prevent washing the +next winter. After the orchard is seven or eight years old, I should +leave it in clover and weeds, mowing two or three times a year to make a +mulch and prevent tall growth of weeds. + +"Hogs in the orchard" is generally condemned. I have seen old orchards, +however, that were decidedly benefited by hogs. Hogs and plums go +together. This is no theory, but an established fact. Let them rub the +trees as much as they will; let them tramp the ground till it is as bare +and as hard as the road. It will do no harm; it will do good. Hogs may +not like green apples, but there is something specially delectable to a +hog in a green, wormy plum. He will pick up every one that drops, and so +diminish the crop of curculio. In my locality, pruning of apple and +cherry orchards is practiced very sparingly. Cutting out broken, decayed +and interlacing branches and the suckers at the base seems to be about +all the pruning that is desirable. Peach and plum orchards are likewise +neglected, though some growers practice heading in to make the trees +grow more compact, and to thin the fruit. I think that, with tall and +straggling apple trees, such as Missouri Pippin, Winesap, or Minkler, +heading in might be profitably practiced. + +The question as to the profit of spraying for insects and fungi, as far +as my observation goes, is not settled yet. The theory is all +right--indeed, it has become one of the strongest articles of faith in +the horticulturist's creed. When the subject comes up in the +horticultural meeting all commend it. Very few growers, however, make a +business of spraying. Most of the growers in my locality who used to +spray have quit it. They deny that they have lost faith in it, but they +don't do it. My opinion, based not on my own experience, but the +practice--or rather lack of practice--of others, is that, save in +exceptional cases, it doesn't pay; that the ravages of codling-moth and +curculio are not appreciably lessened by spraying; that the loss from +scab in this dry climate is so light as not to justify the cost of +spraying; that, just as many of the doctrines of the churchmen would +die out if the preachers should turn teachers, so the doctrine of +spraying as a cure-all would die out if the pump men and experimenters +should turn fruit-growers; that the average man believes in a +perfunctory way many things which his experience forbids him to +practice. + +The damage from borers is a serious drawback to orcharding. There are +various patent contrivances and washes that are recommended to prevent +the work of borers, but all, so far as my observation goes, fall short +of complete success. The only safe way is to hunt the borers out. This +should be done twice a year, late in August, when the newly hatched ones +are large enough to be easily seen, and in April or May, after they have +come up out of the roots, to get the ones overlooked in the fall. + +Rabbits the past year have been specially troublesome. In my locality +they frequently attack large trees, six to ten inches in diameter, and, +in some instances, entirely destroy them. Their mischief for the most +part, however, is confined to young orchards, and may be prevented by +wrapping the trees with grass, stalks, paper, or, better than anything +else, wooden wrappers made especially for the purpose. These wrappers +are now manufactured in Kansas City. They cost about one-third of a cent +each, are easily put on, and last four or five years. They are said to +protect the tree from sun-scald and borer also, but I would not rely on +them as a protection from borers, but would remove them and hunt the +borers at least once a year. + + +PICKING AND PACKING. + + Description of sorting table used by D. S. HAINES, Edwardsville, + Wyandotte county, Kansas. + +Our packing-house is on hilly land, and it is considerable trouble to +haul apples to it. My packer now sorts and packs right in the orchard, +using a sorting table. This table stands say three feet high and ten +feet long, and three and one-half feet wide, with a common six-inch +board on edge on the side. The men in picking use a ladder twelve to +eighteen feet long. We did wrong in making our ladders; we could have +bought them already made that were lighter and just the right thing. We +set this sorting table among the trees; the men fill their sacks, +emptying them on this table, which is carpeted; they barrel the apples +up beside this table by letting them through an opening into a barrel. +An apron is so arranged as to let the apples fall on it, and gently roll +into the barrel without bruising. A man heads the barrels as soon as +packed. In packing apples in the field we found that something solid was +needed upon which to shake the barrels. The man who fills the barrels +shakes them to make them more solid; then when pressed they bruise less. +Our man can head about 100 barrels a day. In our rough country it is a +great advantage to sort and pack in the orchard. We move this table +about in the orchard. The expense to pick and pack a barrel of apples is +about twenty cents. + + +A PICKING SACK. + + Description of one used by FRED WELLHOUSE. + +We usually pick two rows of apples at a time, using gangs of twelve men +with a foreman. We cannot use more to advantage. Each man has a common +grain sack with a leather fastened to the bottom, as used in sowing +grain. These picking sacks are made by taking a strong two-bushel grain +sack. Sew a leather strap six inches long and four inches wide to a +bottom corner of the sack. On the loose end of this strap fasten a +strong metallic hook. To the upper corner on same side of sack fasten a +strong metallic ring or link. Opposite this ring fasten with rivets a +piece of iron six or eight inches long and about half an inch wide and +one-eighth an inch thick, rounded, across the sack mouth at the edge to +hold the sack open. This sack is worn under the left arm, the strap +going over the right shoulder and hooking in front. We use ladders from +twelve to sixteen feet long. The top of the ladder is made narrow so it +can be put between the limbs, being just wide enough at top to set one +foot on at a time. The apples are picked and put in bushel boxes on a +platform on a wagon. The boxes are sixteen inches wide, twenty-four +inches long, and eight inches deep, holding about a bushel, sixteen to a +wagon. + + +A DISCUSSION ON PACKAGES. + +Edwin Snyder, Jefferson county: I want to say something about marking +packages. I had a nice crop of Jonathan apples; expert men barreled them +for me, and put my address on the end of the barrel, outside. The +commission man just took his little knife and raked it [the address] +off. It is policy to put your name on [packages] if going to a +wholesaler, but not to a commission house. I know economy pays in +handling fruits, from packing to marketing. I should think boxes better +[than barrels]. We have had trouble with barrel hoops breaking. I do not +believe it best to sort too closely. If you put first-class apples on +top, and second-class on the bottom, your customers expect to find the +best on top and worst on bottom. + +B. F. Smith: I have been in Kansas City, and never saw a name scratched +off a barrel yet. In grading strawberries, give each picker six boxes in +a tray; have them fill three with large berries and three with medium +size [impracticable]; allow no inferior or small ones put in. + +A Member: About fifty per cent. of our fruit, especially apples, is not +readily marketed. Can we possibly handle this fifty per cent. so as to +make it pay the expense of handling the better part of the fruit? + +Edwin Taylor: If the culls are fifty per cent. of the crop, it is not +difficult to make them pay for handling the entire crop. This year the +culls would readily sell at fifteen cents in the orchard. Last year +there was no trouble to sell "down apples" for ten cents in the orchard. +The cost of packing is slightly more or less than fifteen cents a +barrel. If your apples are scattered, more; if near together, less. + +Dr. G. Bohrer: Would it not pay better to work them [the culls] into +cider and vinegar? + +Edwin Taylor: No, sir. I had rather they would rot on the ground than be +made into cider. + +A Member: Our second grade brought forty cents a crate; the best, sixty +cents. It pays me best to mix them. I ship to Kansas City, and they +handle my fruit with success. + +H. L. Ferris: This year I sent a Minnesota man a car load of very small +Winesap and Missouri Pippin apples, such as we use for making cider, in +exchange for potatoes. I sold part of the potatoes at seventy-five cents +and eighty cents, and some are in the cellar. + +Geo. Van Houten: In our state [Iowa] we are most successful in handling +apples in barrels. For a small trade, bushel boxes made of light +material may serve better. Many car-loads are sent out in eight-pound +baskets. + + +HOGS IN THE ORCHARD. + +Question: _Does swine grazing injure orchards?_ + +J. W. Robison: Not if the hogs are kept out of it. It is death to an +orchard to let hogs in. To let them rub against the trees closes the +pores, and growth ceases. We notice in the newspapers that fish oil, +axle grease, etc., keep off rabbits. I tried using axle grease two +years. You could see the mark around where the oil had been, and note +where growth had stopped below this mark. By washing this with soap, we +were enabled to get the trees to grow again. Hogs, as I stated before, +will, by rubbing, close the pores. The tramping hardens the soil and +shuts out any percolation of water into it. As well plant a tree in the +middle of the road as where hogs have been. They, of all animals, tramp +the ground the hardest. + +Samuel Reynolds: Would pigs injure the soil? + +T. A. Stanley: I have had experience in this, yet, while I do not know +anything about the gentleman's land packing, I believe it benefits some +orchards to run hogs in them. I tried it on an orchard that had ceased +bearing. I inclosed the orchard and put hogs in for a year or more. New +growth started on the trees, and they at once began to bear, and bore +for several years after I took the hogs out. I could see no injury +caused by their rubbing the trees. I do not think they will rub the +trees if the orchard is large. I do not see what injury they do. After +the apples grew large enough, if wormy they fell, and the hogs ate the +apples and the worms also. + +Edwin Taylor: I have had a little experience in that line. I fenced +around a twenty-acre orchard, expecting to combine horticulture and +agriculture right there. My hogs were lousy, and they did rub the trees, +and whenever they rub they destroy. Anybody who tries it will find they +will absolutely squeal for something to eat when there are bushels of +apples on the ground. I was at large expense to fence, but was so +disappointed with the hog business that I took the fence down. + + +COLD STORAGE. + + By GEO. RICHARDSON, of Leavenworth, Kan. + +It has been well said that "Necessity is the mother of invention." Cold +storage of the present time is understood as "mechanical refrigeration," +and in general, the preservation of perishable articles by means of low +temperature, hence, the act of reducing the temperature of any body, or +maintaining the same below the temperature of the atmosphere, is called +refrigeration, or more familiarly known as cold storage, produced by the +employment of machinery of various types. Of those mostly in use, are +the compression system, using anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant, by +expanding the ammonia either directly through coils of pipe arranged in +the storage rooms, or through coils of pipe that are submerged in salt +brine, where the brine is reduced to a low temperature and then forced +and circulated through pipes in the storage rooms, one being known as +direct expansion, the other, brine circulation, but both accomplish same +results. + +To utilize anhydrous ammonia requires complicated and expensive +machinery, and to those not acquainted with the subject it may seem +strange that more units of heat are produced by the burning of coal, +wood or oil than there are units of cold produced to reduce the +temperature of storage rooms. + +Of the uses and benefits of cold storage it can be truthfully stated, +that nothing in recent years has been of more direct benefit to the +farmer, stock-raiser, and fruit-grower. But a brief period has passed +since cellars, caves and underground grottos served as the best means, +and in a limited way under certain conditions of weather, for the +protection and preservation of perishable articles. + +To-day machinery has made it possible to control temperature at any +degree and in all climates. The burning heat under the equator would not +be an impediment to secure a zero temperature in a cold-storage room. + +The construction and successful operation of the mammoth packing-houses +are the outgrowth of the success of the application of mechanical +refrigeration, where any day of the year a market is made for live +stock. But few years have elapsed since the vast herds of South American +cattle had no value, except for their hides, horns, and tallow, and the +great bands of Australian sheep for their wool. Now immense +refrigerating plants are in operation, freezing the beef and mutton, +with fleets of ocean steamers equipped with refrigerating machinery and +storage rooms filled with frozen meat for European markets. From the +United States the dressed-beef traffic is of large proportions. Storage +speculators are always ready buyers at remunerative prices for butter +and eggs, that in value exceed the great wheat crop of America. + +To fruit-growers, especially those engaged in apple culture, cold +storage is attracting more than common interest, as it has been +demonstrated a grand success in the preservation of apples from three to +six months longer, in good condition, than in natural storage that is +subject to the changeable influences of the atmosphere. At the same +time, the apples retain their original and individual flavor, color, and +crispness. + +Cold storage, or mechanical refrigeration, arrests fermentation and +decay, or, better stated, prolongs the life and keeping qualities. + +Of the advantages gained, it offers a place of safe-keeping for future +market, and affords a protection for the grower if market conditions are +not favorable; such as an overstocked market, consequently low prices, +caused largely and influenced by many other varieties of fruit that are +in season while the apple crop is being gathered. + +Again, the fact of the existence of cold-storage houses has brought into +the field speculators, which has a wholesome influence, and oftentimes +strengthens the markets and lessens the quantity that would of necessity +be forced on sale at an earlier period at a great sacrifice, which is +the situation this year, where the enormous crops of New York, New +England and Michigan apples are being sold at from fifty to seventy-five +cents a barrel (including barrels) placed aboard cars, for the want of +proper and sufficient storage facilities to relieve part of the burden. +No such condition or low price has yet been felt by the Western grower. + +There may be years when the buyers will look far into the future and +think they can see visions of long prices, when it would be wise for the +growers to sell, as there is some risk to be taken as to future markets +being lower than prices in the fall, but such is not the rule. + +From six years' experience with mechanical refrigeration and the storage +of Western-grown apples, there has not been a year but what a profit has +been shown over and above the cost of storage, insurance, and minor +incidental charges. One of the first to make the experiment, and who +have been patrons of Ryan & Richardson's cold storage, at Leavenworth, +since the plant was erected, were Wellhouse & Son, the largest apple +growers in the United States, and the records show a net profit of from +fifty cents a barrel, as the lowest of any year, to as high as $1.50 +other years. It is gratifying to state that, in all the years, not a +single car-load was rejected when sold. Much of the success must be +given credit to the grower who gathers his crop at the right time, in a +careful manner, graded and packed according to the requirements of the +trade. Then, if the cold storage to which he intrusts the care of his +crop uses the same watchfulness as to necessary temperature, proper +ventilation at the right time, the result usually will be gratifying and +remunerative to both. + + +A FRUIT DRYER. + +The dryers used by Wellhouse & Son are made as follows: A rough building +eighteen feet square and sixteen feet to the eaves is built. In building +the roof, a lantern or ventilator is built along the ridge, over an +opening in the ridge two feet wide. At eight feet from the ground is +built a slatted floor. The timbers [?] upon which this floor is laid are +best made of one-inch boards, ten to twelve inches wide, placed only ten +or twelve inches apart. The floor slats are best made of poplar, as pine +often flavors the fruit. They are sawn from inch lumber one and one-half +inches on one face and one and one-quarter inches on the other face. The +slats are nailed to the floor joists [?] with the wide faces uppermost +and about one eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch apart, thus making +the crevices wider below, which, together with the narrowness of the +floor joists [?], allows free circulation and prevents clogging. The +lower floor is of earth, cinders, stone, or other material. On each +side, near the ground, are two openings, each two feet square, with +shutters to close them; these are to admit fresh air, and can be closed +to regulate draft. A chimney is built up through the center of the +building, out through the roof. A door is made to each floor; in front +of the upper door is built a balcony reached by outside stairs. This +completes the dryer. + +It may be used for storing hay, fodder, tools, etc., after the drying +season is over. The upper floor might be made removable. Many farmers +have a suitable building if the slatted floor is added. Any kind of a +wood or coal stove (or a brick furnace) is placed in the lower room and +a good heat kept up; maximum 150 degrees. The prepared fruit is simply +spread evenly upon the slatted floor from four to twelve inches deep. +Fire must be continuous, and a dryer eighteen feet square will dry 100 +bushels in twenty-four hours. + +Bleaching is done as follows: An upright box about two feet square and +twelve feet long is built outside against the balcony. A set of trays +are made to fit it; these trays have bottoms of galvanized-wire +screening. A pot of sulphur is kept burning on the ground under the +center of said box, the apples, peeled and cored, are placed in the tray +and the tray slid in above the sulphur. An endless chain mechanism moves +the tray up ten to twelve inches and another goes in; as they come to +the top an employee removes them and runs the fruit through a slicer and +then spreads it out on the drying floor. In twenty-four hours the +product will be dry, but not alike; they are then piled up under cover, +and pass through a sweat, making them alike throughout. As soon as cool +they are packed, and pressed into boxes for shipment. This dryer costs +but little, and the building may be used eight to ten months of the year +for any cleanly purpose. President Wellhouse has six of these dryers in +a row in one of his orchards. A single bleacher answers for several +dryers. + + +THE MOYER FRUIT EVAPORATOR. + +Bill of lumber for dry-house: Four pieces 2x4, 10 feet long; flooring, +150 feet; 1x1 strips, for trays, 400 feet, lineal measure; 1x2, 47 feet, +lineal measure; 1x4, for tray rest in center, 47 feet, lineal measure. + +How to build and operate: For the house or box part, take four pieces of +2x4, 56 inches long, and four pieces 2x4, 37-1/2 inches long; nail +together with the short pieces on the inside, lapping the long ones on +the end of the shorter--thus making a frame 52x37-1/2 on the inside. +This makes the sills and plates. Close three sides of this with matched +flooring, up and down, seven feet high; now you have a box seven feet +high, 52x37-1/2 inches. Leave the one side open to be closed with four +doors similar to double stable doors, and in the exact center of this +door space nail a 1x2 inch piece up and down to nail tray rest to. This +will give two rows of trays. + +Put comb roof on with the flooring, leaving a vent open at comb two +inches the entire length of box. Make a V trough, which turn upside down +with one inch blocks under the corners; this gives ventilation and also +keeps out the rain; also make two six-inch holes below, to be opened or +closed as needed; this admits cold air and drives the hot air up, +causing complete draft. When the evaporator is full of fruit, the holes +below should be open full size, except at night, when fruit is nearly +dried, they should be closed, or partly so, which is done by tacking a +small piece of board over hole, which can be pushed to one side and a +nail or screw hold it in place. For the trays to rest on, take a piece +1x4, 37-1/2 inches long, nail a two-inch piece of same length in center +of this, on top; this gives one inch on each side for rabbet; this is +for center, and the rabbet rest is nailed to it through the 1x2 inch in +front, and through the siding on rear side. For the outside rabbet, one +piece 1x1 inch, 37-1/2 long; this nailed to the end of the box forms +rabbet for the trays to rest on. As many of these tray rests can be made +as needed to fill the box to near the top of doors. Place the first ones +twelve inches from bottom of box, and continue up, placing them three +and one-half inches apart. The trays are made of 1x1 inch strips for the +frame part, and are 2x3 feet square; bottom is made of plastering lath +sawed in two, and also cut in two lengthwise, as they are too wide; nail +these to bottom of frame, three-sixteenths of an inch apart. When used +for berries or sweet corn, tack cheese cloth stretched tightly over the +lath. There should be four doors, in order to have as small a space open +as possible in attending to the fruit; these are hung by light hinges to +outside and fastened by a wooden button screwed to center upright. The +lumber can all be bought at planer ready for use cheaper than it can be +cut by hand. + +For the furnace, build a box of brick or stone as large on the inside as +the house, letting the most of the wall extend on the outside, in order +to have all the space possible inside, for heating. Build into this wall +at the bottom and ends a piece of heavy stack or sheet iron; any old +smoke-stack will do, but must be at least one foot in diameter: if +smoke-stack is used, split it and spread as much as possible, to have +large enough place for fire and all the heating surface possible. This +open edge of iron must be well plastered down with mortar, or brick and +mortar, that no smoke may get inside. Let it extend just through the +wall to a flue built at the end on the outside, of brick or stone, as +high or a little higher than the wall; then a common six-inch stovepipe +set on, to run as high as the evaporator, will do. A damper in pipe is +an advantage to check draft and control heat, and pipe should be at +least one foot from evaporator. + +The mouth of furnace should be at same end as the ventilator holes in +the evaporator, and can be closed by a piece of sheet iron with a small +draft underneath, the same as a stove door. + +Set your box evaporator on this wall, and mud or plaster it down tight. +In using, always have your house well heated before putting in fruit. +The top of wall must be fully one foot above top of iron; this will make +two feet space from iron to first tray. In putting the trays in, shove +the first one clear back, let second be flush in front, the third clear +back again--placing them the same in both sides; this sends the heated +air directly over each tray to the top. + + +A MISSOURI APPLE HOUSE. + +The property of Col. J. C. Evans, Harlem, Mo., president of Missouri +State Horticultural Society. Dimensions: Length, 200 feet; width, 46 +feet; depth, 11 feet; earth bank, 5-1/2 feet thick. Capacity, 15,000 +barrels. Cost, $1,000 and eighty-five loads of sawdust. Double floor +overhead, with eight inches of sawdust between. Roof projects three feet +all round. Ground slopes away rapidly, to carry away water. Winter +entrance through anteroom 12x12. Driveway twelve feet wide through whole +length. + + +MANY WAYS OF USING CULL APPLES. + +Cider: Newly made sweet cider is both pleasant and healthful, and is a +useful ingredient in some culinary preparations; but it should be used +fresh from the press or not more than twenty-four hours old. To make it, +cut out all the rotten and bruised spots, also the worms and their +burrows. To make cider or vinegar from rotten and wormy apples ought to +be considered a crime. The famous Russet cider of New York is made from +sound Russet apples and brings top price. + +Sweet cider may be canned or bottled and will keep interminably, if +heated to 160 degrees and kept hot for twenty minutes, then canned and +sealed as for fruit. + +Boiled cider, that is, reduced to one-fifth by boiling, and canned, is a +nice article for culinary use, for making apple-butter, apple-sauce and +in apple or mince pies. It would sell. + +Cider vinegar is the best for home use and market. No one having an +apple orchard should ever buy vinegar, and ought to have some to sell to +neighbors or at the stores. To make: Sweet cider carefully made should +be placed in clean, sweet, oak barrels, placed in a room where sun and +frost cannot reach it. The barrels should be laid on their sides, with +the open bung-hole upward, and double mosquito net or wire tacked over +it. It requires from eighteen months to two years to become first class, +but there is no more labor excepting to rack or siphon it off from the +sediment; do not be impatient; make some every year, and if you are a +"rustler" you will make good money out of it. Our home demand requires +over 50,000 barrels per month. + +Apple-butter, to be good, requires boiled cider, and if to the boiled +cider is added the good parts of the best culls, and carefully and +skilfully boiled, either with or without spices, it sells for one dollar +per gallon and is very profitable. + +Dried apples: The best of the culls, carefully trimmed, peeled, cored, +and quartered or sliced, may be dried in the sun and air anywhere in +Kansas. A cheap rack of poles or slats three or four feet above the +ground, a lot of trays made of lath with muslin bottoms and plenty of +mosquito netting to spread on hoops or bars above the fruit to keep off +flies, are all that is needed. Do not leave them spread out during rain, +or at night. The trays can be piled at night, with the fruit in them, +under a shed or cover. Keep all vermin from them and stir often. + +Evaporated apples sell better, and by many are preferred. [I like the +sun-kissed ones the best.--Sec.] There are numerous patent evaporators, +all very good; but any ingenious man can make his own. The evaporators +in which the Wellhouse culls are dried are very simple. President +Wellhouse says he spent over $2,500 on patent dryers without any +satisfaction, and then built his own, which are described elsewhere. + + + + +ENEMIES OF THE APPLE.[A] + + +[A] We are pleased to acknowledge our obligations for much of the +following valuable information on our insect enemies and for the loan of +cuts used to Prof. J. M. Stedman, of Columbia College, Mo., and Prof. E. +E. Faville, of the Kansas Agricultural College. + + +APPLE-WORMS. + +Many believe that worms are the parents of worms, and that they come +suddenly, like a "wolf on the fold." A letter is received at this office +telling of the sudden appearance in immense numbers of a worm that is +destroying all that is before it, and wondering where they came from "so +suddenly." Speaking of apple pests, the canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, +the worm (larva) of the handmaid-moth, and the apple-worm (larva of the +codling-moth), they did not come (travel) from anywhere; and no +difference if they cover your trees, or are like the "sands on the +seashore," they were all hatched right there on your trees. + +An observer looks at an apple or a nut with a hole in it, and says, +"There is where the worm went in." It is directly the opposite; that is +where the worm went out. He hatched from an egg, placed on, near by or +just under the surface of the fruit; and eating a burrow to the core it +grew large and plump, became a full-grown worm, burrowed to the surface, +and passed out. When you see worms hanging in great numbers from single +webs or the bole of your tree alive, with myriads of worms crawling, +some up, some down, some crosswise, know of a surety that they are not +going _up_, but coming _down_ to Mother Earth. Insect life changes more +in a day than humanity does in a year. These worms have quit feeding, +and are in a nervous, uneasy, often blind and skin-tight condition, +going through a change from the luxury of leaf or fruit eating to a +desire and ability to burrow into a living tomb several inches below the +earth's surface. These myriads of worms are doing you no harm now; they +will never eat again, no matter how tempting the morsel. This shows the +absurdity of bands of cotton, etc., placed about a tree when the bole is +covered with worms, "to keep them from going up." + +The real parents, the ones that lay the eggs and propagate their +species, are usually winged moths or butterflies. A beautiful moth that +you admire and will not allow your child to hurt may be the parent of +the disgusting and destructive worms covering your trees or shrubs. In +the following pages, we have tried in the least and simplest language to +describe our commonest and most objectionable apple pests. + + +SPRING CANKER-WORM. + +This is the worm that the amateur and the very busy man suddenly +discovers in April defoliating his apple trees, and, on examination, he +finds them in such myriads that he imagines some power has suddenly sown +them broadcast over his orchard. See fig. 1. Had he been observant +during the sunny middays of February, he would have noticed insects +similar to figure 2 crawling up the bole of the tree, and looking closer, +a little later, he would see small masses of eggs, shown in figures +3 _a_ and _b_, glued fast, usually near the base of limbs or twigs. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2. Adult Female.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3. _a_, Eggs deposited at base of limb. _b_, +Egg mass.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 4. _a_, Larva, or worm. _b_, Cluster, and +a magnified egg.] + +Along early in April these eggs, warmed by the same sun that swells the +buds and causes the green tips of the leaves to protrude, hatch into +tiny worms looking like a dark thread snipped into bits about an eighth +of an inch long. These millions of tiny worms, scarcely visible, occupy +their time eating and growing, and the orchardist is possibly unaware of +the army he is feeding until they grow into lusty, fat worms, from one +and one-eighth to one and one-fourth inches long, of a dark olive-green +color, with black heads. See _a_, fig. 4. If disturbed they quickly spin +a single web and fall suspended at its end, as in fig. 1. Their life, as +worms, lasts only about six weeks, then they seem suddenly to have +vanished. They have gone into the earth to pass into the pupa state, +coming out the following spring as adults; the males with wings to fly, +the female wingless, as in fig. 2, to crawl up the tree as described. +Now, as these myriads of tiny worms must make the tons of grown worms +entirely from the foliage on the trees in which they hatched, it is +plain that the said foliage must suffer, and it will look as if scorched +by fire. + +_Remedies._ Bands smeared with sticky material put tightly around the +tree bole early in February has stopped many a female from crawling up +to lay her eggs. Spraying with London purple or Paris green, one pound +with two pounds of lime and 150 gallons of water, is the common remedy. +To be efficacious the drug must be of a normal strength, say forty-five +per cent. arsenic, and as the worms grow larger and stronger the water +must be lessened. When the worms are an inch or more long it may require +only fifty gallons of water. Another formula is, two pounds white +arsenic, four pounds sal soda, two gallons of water; boil until the +arsenic is dissolved. One pint is enough for forty gallons of water. As +the worms usually feed on the under side of the leaves, spraying should +be from below as much as possible. "The early bird catches the worm" is +true here. Therefore, spray while the worms are tiny and the foliage +thin, and the work will count as the "stitch in time," destroying nine +hundred and ninety-nine. + + +TENT-CATERPILLAR. + +Nearly every one has seen the "tents" of these in neglected trees. See +fig. 5. They usually betoken the too busy man--the man with too many +irons in the fire. They are large, unsightly bunches of webs, closely +woven together at the forks of twigs at the ends of limbs or branches. +The parents of these worms are moths (see fig. 6) which appear in June +each year, and deposit their eggs in clusters containing two or three +hundred, surrounding small twigs. See fig. 7. Sharp eyes, a sharp knife +and nimble fingers will bring many to the kitchen fire. These eggs hatch +in the warm days of spring, and the tiny worms immediately seek and +devour the tender buds and leaves. The day they hatch they begin to +build the "tent." Those from the same mass of eggs, say 250, combine to +make the home nest or tent. They come out from this tent to feed in the +morning, return for a _siesta_ or sleep, and emerge again in the +afternoon for a second feed. + +[Illustration: FIG. 5. Tent with larvae.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 6. Adult.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 7.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 8. Tent-caterpillar.] + +They live in this way four or five weeks, becoming, when full grown, +about two inches long and nearly as large as a lead-pencil. See fig. 8. +They are black, with light-colored tufts of hair on the back. Down the +center of the back is a white line bordered with irregular yellowish +lines. The sides of the body are marked with pale blue, while the under +side of the worm is black. When grown they pass to the ground and hunt a +sheltered place, where they spin a cocoon, from which, in about three +weeks, emerges the adult moth, fig. 6, the color of which varies from +yellowish to reddish brown. The front wings each contain two oblique, +whitish lines, dividing the wing into three nearly equal parts. These +moths are night flyers during the last half of June and first half of +July. They eat nothing. The female lays her eggs as described, and dies. + +_Remedies._ Spare the birds; put up boxes for the bats and owls. Cut off +the egg clusters during the winter. Cut and burn the tents, or burn the +tents on the tree, with any kind of a torch. Early morning or late +evening is the time, as they are then all home. Spray the foliage +nearest the tents with solutions for canker-worm. + + +CODLING-MOTH. + +The apple-worm, which every apple eater has found many times in the +apple, is the child of the codling-moth. See _b_, fig. 9. It is a +scourge all over the apple-growing district. It destroys or reduces the +value of the apple crop many millions of dollars annually. + +[Illustration: FIG. 9. _a_, Female Codling-moth. _b_, Larva of same in +apple.] + +The parent--adult insect, or moth--see _a_, fig. 9, is a small moth with +a spread of wings three-fourths of an inch, the first pair marked with +wavy lines of gray and brown, with a large, oval brown spot, streaked +coppery, on hinder margin. The hind wings are yellowish brown. These +moths appear, and begin to lay on the surface of the leaves, in the +calyx, or on the surface of the apple, about the 1st of May. The eggs +hatch in about one week, and the young worm immediately begins to burrow +into the apple, working its way to the center, where it works around the +core, gaining strength and size for about three weeks, when it leaves +the apple and seeks a hiding place in which to spin its cocoon, the +favorite place being under projections of the rough bark of the tree. +When first hatched these worms are small, hardly one-eighth of an inch +long, white, with a black head and shoulders. When mature, the body is +pinkish and the head and shoulders brown. The adult, _a_, fig. 9, issues +from the cocoon in about two weeks, appearing near June 15. They +commence at once to lay eggs. The worms of this, the second brood, live +in the apple all winter, and it is these that disgust the apple eater +and cut the profits of the orchardist. + +_Remedies._ The same spray as for canker-worms, used just after the +petals of the blossom fall. No eggs are deposited earlier than this. At +this time the calyx cup is open, and a little poison in it is apt to +prove fatal to the infant worm. In a few days after the egg is laid the +calyx closes, and no spray will reach the worm. Remember, this early +spraying does away with the parents of the _second_ brood, and hence +should not be neglected. Bands of burlaps, paper or other material, +loosely tied about the tree before June 1, make attractive places for +the worms to pupate in. These bands should be examined often, say +weekly, and all worms killed. Fallen fruit should be gathered and fed to +stock. Cellars, caves and fruit houses should be thoroughly cleaned and +fumigated and the cleanings burned every spring, as many thousands of +moths are wintered over in them. + + +FLAT-HEADED BORER. + +The adult, fig. 10, is flat, about three-eighths of an inch long, of a +greenish black with coppery reflections. They appear about the last of +May and deposit eggs from then until September. They generally lay their +eggs in a diseased portion of the tree, where it has been bruised, or +sun-scalded, or in trees of weak vitality, in bad health from lack of +cultivation or moisture, or from soil poverty. The eggs are small and +yellowish, and are found singly or in numbers in crevices in the bark. +The larva, or borer, fig. 11, when young, is yellowish, with a broad, +flat head; it soon bores to the sap-wood, where it feeds. At this time +it is easily discovered by the "castings" from the opening. As they +become older and larger they bore into the harder wood, making flattened +chambers. In about a year they gnaw a channel to the outside, excepting +a thin layer of bark, and backing a little way they crowd castings to +the front and change into the perfect insect, emerging about the last of +May. + +[Illustration: FIG. 10. Adult Flat-headed Borer.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 11. Larva of a Flat-headed Borer.] + +_Remedies._ Keep the tree thrifty, free from bruises or sun-scald, and +the flow of sap will drown them. If any are detected by the castings, +cut in, and use a hooked wire to pull them out. Some washes will deter +the female from depositing eggs. For instance: Equal parts of soft soap +and sal soda, with enough crude carbolic acid to give a strong odor. +Apply with a brush several times in a season, especially where the bark +appears unhealthy. + + +ROUND-HEADED BORER. + +Attacks the same trees under the same conditions as the flat-headed +borer. The adult, fig. 12, is about five-eighths of an inch long, brown +above, with two white stripes the whole length of the back. Head and +under surface grayish. It is a night flyer. The female appears about +June 1, and stays until September. She deposits her eggs at night, in +small incisions made angling into the bark, generally near the ground. +In about two weeks they hatch, and the little borers, _a_, fig. 13, +begin to bore their way into the inner bark and sap-wood, leaving the +bore filled with "castings," fig. 14. For two summers they stay in the +sap-wood and do great damage, often girdling young trees. After the +second winter they cut channels up into the hard wood; attaining their +growth by fall, they burrow outward to the under side of the bark, and +there remain until spring, changing to adults. See _b_, fig. 13. They +then gnaw through the bark, and emerge about June 1 to propagate their +species. + +_Remedies._ Same as for flat-headed borer. + +[Illustration: FIG. 12. Adult Round-headed Borer, greatly enlarged.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 13. Larva and pupa of the Round-headed Borer.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 14. _a_, Incision in which egg is deposited; _b_, +same, the wood has been split along line _a_; _e_, showing egg in place; +_c_, showing how egg is inserted under bark; _d_, egg greatly magnified; +_e_, hole through which adult emerged; _f_, channel of larva; _g_, +insect in pupal state just before issuing as an adult.] + + +TREE WASHES FOR BORERS. + + Observations by members of the Kansas State Horticultural Society. + +A. Chandler: I used a tree wash last year on apple trees for borers and +insects. I have been troubled in my timber (recently cleared) land with +borers, and if I had not taken this precaution they would have been +worse. It is known as the "Carnahan tree wash." Obtaining it ready +prepared in a can, I applied it in June with a whitewash brush to the +tree trunks and a portion of the limbs, and found it very beneficial. +While it will not _destroy_ the borer, I think it will prevent the borer +beetle from depositing eggs on the outside. From the healthy appearance +of the tree and the smooth appearance of the bark, I think it equals +anything I ever tried. It is also good for the prevention of other +insects, as tree-crickets, etc., and I think it will destroy the +curculio to some extent, and will prevent insects climbing the trees. My +trees never looked more thrifty. I cannot say it will prevent root-rot. + +F. Holsinger: I would like to inquire whether your ground was thoroughly +cultivated? + +A. Chandler: All the cultivation I could give would not prevent borers. +I applied the wash from the ground up, as far as I could reach. It costs +about two cents per tree from four to six years old, and I do not know +but what that might be reduced. This wash is obtained in gallon and +half-gallon cans. It should be applied about twice a year--spring and +fall--costing about four cents per year for each tree. + +T. A. Stanley: Would not a strong lime wash do as well. + +A. Chandler: No; I have no success with it. If the borer is in the tree, +you must dig him out with a knife. By examination you can tell whether +borers have deposited eggs or not. I do not say it will rid the tree of +borers if they have been allowed to deposit eggs and are left for years. +It makes the tree grow more vigorous. I do not know what is in this tree +wash, but it did no damage. + +B. F. Smith: Chandler has tried this wash, and it has proven successful +with him. There are always new things being tried. If he has found +something good for trees, we should not object to it. If I receive a +package I will try it. + +T. A. Stanley: My experience with borers will date back as far as fifty +years ago, when I was a boy, and the best thing to exterminate them with +was a jack-knife. A Boston gentleman visiting my father went into the +orchard and asked father if he had ever seen any borers. Father told him +he knew nothing about them (they were something new in those days). +Examining a tree, he took out his jack-knife and went to work near the +ground, and he soon showed why the tree was not doing well. With his +knife he dug the borer out and said the jack-knife was the best +exterminator he knew of. My experience is, if you will attend to it +about the 1st of June, when the beetles come out on the tree and deposit +their eggs behind loose scales of bark, and wash the tree with strong +lime wash, it will kill them. I prefer lime wash to any "nostrum" ever +introduced. When they once get into the tree no wash will take them out. +Horticulturists have been deceived enough by patent nostrums. + +E. J. Holman: By instinct this insect never lays its eggs on the +surface. It lays as completely in the wood as the locust, which +punctures almost to the heart of a twig. A borer lives three years in +the wood; the third year it comes out in perfect form. It goes below in +the wood every winter, and the third spring passes the cocoon stage +there. They lay about fifty eggs, each placed separate and apart in the +wood. Rarely does an egg fail to hatch. + +J. W. Robison: These beetles are very fierce. Put a half dozen into a +bottle and they will beat a bull fight, and will not stop until they +kill each other. She is a philosopher; she makes punctures sideways, so +the eggs can be laid in a row, and the bark close over them. It is only +a few days until they hatch; open the lip where deposited and you can +see them plainly. Without cutting the bark, thrust your knife under the +lip and you can hear the eggs crack. The larva works round and round +until of the size of a pea, and then usually starts upward until he gets +level with the surface of the ground, staying there until the next +season. He comes up early in the spring. My practice is to hoe around +the tree before the time for the round-headed borer to deposit eggs. I +keep the weeds clear, so that I can see where the borer went in. If he +has been in a year or two he is near the middle, and you had better let +him alone, as it will injure the tree to remove him. It is impossible to +get rid of these borers by a wash, because the eggs are covered. There +is no connection between the round-headed and flat-headed borers. + +T. A. Stanley: It requires three years for the borer to mature and come +out. In my experience, the borer selects a spot where loose bark is on +the tree, and goes in where it is tender. It lays eggs in even rows. +These eggs stay under the bark but a short time when they hatch and the +little worm eats into the tender bark, and goes through it, to live and +grow there; when large enough they go into the body of the tree. They +stay there for three years. Scrape off the bark and put whitewash on the +eggs and it will destroy them. + +President Wellhouse: By taking a knife, cutting into the tree, and +running a hooked wire in, you can pull them out. Each female beetle +deposits fifty or sixty eggs, and we find it better and less expensive +to hunt the borers early in the spring. By carefully examining the +bottom of the tree for six or eight inches above the ground you will see +a little brown spot. He came to the bark the fall previous, and sets +about two inches back in his cavity. If you wait till May, he is out and +gone; he is easier taken out in spring than later. By killing the insect +you prevent the egg laying. We always have our men hunt for the insects +that are about to come out. It is easy to find the little brown spot +about the size of your finger end, and you can kill them by pouring a +few drops of coal-oil from a machine can into the cavity. + +Dr. J. Stayman: Can we prevent the borer from entering the tree? I have +practiced banking up my trees as steep as I can, about a foot high; less +may do. The beetle will not deposit eggs where the tree is banked up. I +have practiced this for thirty years, and have never seen a borer in my +trees since I began it. Like these gentlemen, I at first cut out the +borers. We can prevent them by banking up early in the spring. By +instinct, it knows the bank will wash down. If it deposits its eggs, how +easy to scrape away the mound. I never saw a flathead borer on a tree +that was banked. They always work on the south side, where the sun +shines on the tree. + + +BUD MOTH. + +This insect is often very destructive, attacking the blossom and +leaf-buds, and in a few mouthfuls destroying that which must make the +leaves and fruit, "nipping in the bud" the entire crop of fruit and +debilitating the tree. This worm works in early spring, as soon as the +buds begin to open; it delights in the prominent terminal buds and its +work stops all new growth, causes many leaves to turn brown, and thus +brings to the notice of the orchardist its bad work. The moth measures +about three-quarters of an inch across its wings, and is mainly a gray +color, the middle of the fore wings being lighter, or creamy. This +insect first appears on the buds as a small, dark brown worm, about +one-fourth of an inch long, with shining black head and shoulders. It +imbeds itself in the center of the bud, tying the leaves together with +its web. It is an irregular worker, and leaves the bud in a ragged, +brown, dilapidated condition. + +Its work is most destructive in the nursery, destroying terminal shoots, +which sadly interferes with the growth and symmetry of the young tree. +Sometimes it burrows from the bud into the pith of the twig for several +inches, killing the shoot to the tip. The worm finally settles upon a +leaf, cutting the leaf stalk partly off, so that the leaf withers; it +then rolls this soft, wilted leaf into a tube around its body, fastening +it with webs and lining it for a nest. From this tube nest it comes +forth only at night to feed, and when disturbed it hastens into it out +of sight. In feeding, it draws leaves towards its home by silken +threads, thus forming a bunch of partly eaten leaves, which turn brown, +making the nest conspicuous. + +After attaining its growth it lies as a pupa in its silk-lined tube +about ten days, when it emerges an adult moth, and in three or four days +begins to lay its eggs. These moths appear from about June 1 and remain +to July 5 or July 10. They are night flyers, and do no damage in the +winged state. As the worms are leaf-eaters, spraying with London purple +or Paris green, as for canker-worms, must kill many. Whenever their +nests are seen they should, if possible, be gathered and burned, and in +a badly infested orchard it will pay to rake and burn all the leaves +under the trees. + + +APPLE CURCULIO. + +[Illustration: FIG. 15. _a_, Beetle, natural size; _b_, beetle, +magnified; _c_, side and back view of same, magnified.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 16. _a_, Pupa stage; _b_, larva, or worm. Hair-lines +to the left of pupa show natural size.] + +This insect, fig. 15, is usually of a uniform rusty brown color. Four +humps or tubercles are easily seen, two on each wing cover near the +rear. The snout varies from half to the full length of the insect. With +this snout it drills round holes into the apple; these holes are made +for food, and are about one-tenth of an inch deep, widened out below +like a gourd. The female deposits an egg in such hole, which soon +hatches into a tiny worm that usually burrows to the core, and produces +a reddish excrement. In a month, when fully grown, the worm is soft and +white, without feet, wrinkled, and curved crosswise, as in _b_, fig. 16; +too humped and crooked to crawl about out of the apple, it stays in and +changes to pupa, as in _a_, fig. 16, leaving the apple as a perfect +beetle after two or three weeks. It passes the winter in the adult state +and begins laying eggs about June 1, continuing until late in August. +President Wellhouse says he has surely reduced them by spraying. + + +LEAF-CRUMPLER, or LEAF-ROLLER. + +[Illustration: FIG. 17. FIG. 18. +Here _a_ represents worm case; _b_, case attached to a limb; _c_, head +and first segments; _d_, perfect moth. All are magnified; the hair-lines +just under the moth, _d_, represent the natural size.] + +The parent of this is a small grayish moth, _d_, fig. 17, which emerges +from the unsightly mass of dry leaves, as in _b_, fig. 18, formed the +previous season by the insect, and may be seen, gathered, and burned, +during the winter. The female immediately begins laying eggs upon the +leaves of the tree. During the fore part of June small, brownish worms +appear, which at once construct tubular silken cases, in which they +hide. They leave these cases, generally at night, to feed. As they grow +they attach webs to the partly eaten leaves and gather them about +themselves, so that finally the irregular mass of leaves completely +hides the tubular case. In the spring, as the buds swell and the leaves +appear, they come out and do great damage. They grow until in May, when +they close up the opening to the case, and in two weeks the moth +emerges, as above. + +_Remedies._ There are two parasites that prey upon them. Collect the +cases and tufts of leaves during the winter and burn them. The spray +recommended for canker-worm is successful in destroying them. + + +TWIG-GIRDLER, TWIG-PRUNER, and TWIG-BORER. + +Sometimes trouble orchards, but in Kansas they are not bad. Their habits +are indicated by their names, and it is scarcely necessary to describe +them in this work. Numerous bulletins are issued free, describing them +and their habits. See fig. 19. + +[Illustration: FIG. 19. Twig-girdler at work.] + + +ROOT-LOUSE, or WOOLLY APHIS. + +The young are hatched from a minute egg laid in crevices of the bark, +near the ground, and are covered with white down. The grown female +measures about one-tenth of an inch in length, oval in shape, with black +head and feet, dusty legs and antennae. They attach themselves to the +branches and trunk with their long beaks, sucking the vitality from the +tree, which they will kill if in large numbers. During the summer the +females are wingless, but at autumn both sexes have wings, and it is in +this condition that they spread rapidly. They are produced alive at this +time of the year with wonderful rapidity. Where plentiful the trunk and +branches have a moldy appearance. "Lady-birds" and their larvae, the +larvae of lace-winged flies and syrphus-flies, the small chalcid fly and +spiders devour them. No birds are known to feed upon them. + +_Remedy._ Plenty of lye wash, even soap-suds or soap wash is good. +Kerosene emulsion is good. The insect above described is only one form, +viz., woolly aphis. The other form, as root-louse, is described below. +To the public they are two distinct insects. + + +ROOT-LOUSE. + +They work underground, puncturing the root to draw its nourishing juice, +causing the root tissue to expand into knots and irregularities, _a_, +fig. 20, thus making the roots unhealthy and very brittle. These insects +are often found in myriads, looking like bluish-white wool, on the +roots. Certain beetles, maggots and flies prey upon them, but to only a +small extent. + +[Illustration: FIG. 20. Root-louse.] + +_Remedy._ Scalding water, at 150 degrees, poured on the uncovered roots. +If some concentrated lye is added it is still better. Filling above the +roots with tobacco dust is recommended. Soap-suds and wood ashes are +beneficial. Young trees from the nursery, if infested, should have the +roots well trimmed (burn the trimmings) and then dipped in lye. If quite +hot it is still better. + + +FRINGED-WING APPLE-BUD MOTH. + +[Illustration: FIG. 21.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 22.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 23.] + +The following is condensed from bulletin No. 42, written by Prof. J. M. +Stedman, entomologist of the state university, Columbia, Mo.: The +fringed-wing apple-bud moth is a new and heretofore undescribed species +of insect, increasing rapidly and infesting new areas. The best spray to +destroy them is, one pound pure Paris green, three pounds of fresh lime, +and 150 gallons of water, constantly agitated while spraying. First +application as soon as the buds open sufficiently to give the tree a +green tinge; second, five days later; third, at time flower-buds open; +if it rains do it over at once. Kill the worms before they eat into the +bud. The egg is very small, light yellow, and oval, and apt to escape +notice. The young worm is also very small when hatched and of a light +yellow color, which afterwards turns to pale green, a shining black +head, and a brown spot (which soon turns black) back of the head. It has +three pairs of dark-colored true legs under its fore parts, and five +pairs of prolegs under the rear three-fifths of the body. As soon as +hatched they begin to feed on the unfolding leaves, and at once crawl to +the heart of the expanded flower or leaf-bud. + +[Illustration: FIG. 24. Work of the Fringed-wing Apple-bud Moth.] + +The destructive effects cause the tree to look as if swept by fire, +owing to the brown and partly developed foliage. See fig. 24. These +worms (fig. 21) complete their growth in about four weeks, enter the +earth, and, passing one or two inches below the surface, spin a cocoon. +They come out as adult moths in about six weeks, or about the middle of +July. Fig. 22 is the moth enlarged; fig. 23, natural size. The females +soon begin to lay eggs, singly, on the young apple leaves. From these +eggs a second brood is hatched more quickly than the spring brood. This +second brood often eats through the heart of the terminal bud into the +twig. When grown, this second brood enters the ground as did the first, +but do not come forth as adults until the following spring. + + +RABBITS. + +[Illustration: FIG. 25.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 26.] + +The Wellhouse rabbit trap, of which we here give description and +illustrations, is one used by President Wellhouse. He has 3000 of them, +distributed two per acre, and says it is the result of thirty years' +experience. He uses nothing else to protect his trees. Figure 25 is a +longitudinal section of the trap. Figure 26 is a front-end view of the +trap, on a scale three times that of fig. 25, and shows the details of +the door. The trap consists of a box made of fence boards (old ones +preferred) six inches wide and one inch thick. The boards are cut +twenty-two inches long, and the top and bottom boards are nailed onto +the side boards, thus making the opening four inches wide and six inches +high. The door, _a_, is made of wire, shaped as shown in fig. 26, and +hung to under side of the top board with two staples, shown at _dd_. The +trigger, _b_, is of wire, bent as in fig. 25, spread out, or with a loop +or figure 8, at the hanging end, and is fastened loosely along the +center on the under side of the top board with two staples. + +To operate the trap, push the door, _a_, inward, and with the forefinger +catch the hooked end of the trigger, _g_, and pull it forward until the +door rests on the wire above the hook at _g_. The rabbit enters the +trap, prompted by curiosity or otherwise, and by so doing pushes the +trigger, _c_, back as he would a little brush in a hollow log, without +any suspicion or alarm. This action loosens the door, which falls behind +him, its lower edge resting against the shoulder at _f_, and bunny is +then caught. This trap was invented by Walter Wellhouse, but it is not +patented. He uses no bait. The trap cannot be sprung by birds or wind. +If new lumber is used, it must be stained some dark color, using +material not offensive to a rabbit's delicate sense of smell. + + + + +APPLES FOR THE TABLE. + + Compiled, by request, by Miss GERTRUDE COBURN, Professor of + Domestic Economy, Iowa Agricultural College, Ames, Iowa. + + +Chemical analysis of apples, fairly representing the average +composition, indicates that the total nutriment is about fifteen per +cent. of the whole weight, and consists principally of sugar, organic +acid, and pectin (which gelatinizes when boiled and cooled). Although +the fruit is thus shown to be but slightly nutritious, it is generally +palatable and wholesome. It easily supplies variety in diet throughout +the year, and it has the advantage of being suitable for any meal and +combining agreeably with many other common food materials. + +When ripe, and carefully selected, the uncooked apple is toothsome and +healthful, either alone and between meals or as one of the table fruits. +The indigestible skin and cellulose, with the water and acid, contribute +to the dietetic value, in that they make the whole raw apple a laxative +food, especially effective when eaten before breakfast or at night. + +Cooked entire, and without any addition, the well-flavored apple is +among the most perfect and economical of the subacid fruits for +every-day use, and for the invalid's tray is seldom surpassed. Baked in +its own juice, with sugar and additional flavoring, or boiled in syrup, +it is relished equally with the breakfast mush, the dinner meat, and the +supper bread and cake. Combined with cream, custard, whipped white of +egg, or tapioca, which add nutriment without destroying the fruit +flavor, it affords a delicate dessert, inexpensive and easily prepared. +Steamed or baked, with a light covering or crust of biscuit dough or +pastry, it has a variety of forms, all used for dinner, and usually made +complete with sweetened cream, or in other cases with a bit of good +cheese. + +The skin, while not digestible, is not often injurious, and as the best +flavor is contained in the surface portion of the apple, careless paring +is wasteful and unnecessary, especially when the fruit is to be baked. +The unbroken envelope retains the steam produced as the juice is heated, +thus hastening the process of expanding and bursting the tiny cells and +converting the firm pulp into a delicate sauce. This suggests that, in +order to produce the desirable lightness, the oven should be +sufficiently hot to change the water of the fruit into steam. If the +skin is tough or for other reasons is removed, the clean, unblemished +parings, with the cores, may be simmered in water until the flavor and +color make it a useful addition for pudding sauce, preserves, or jelly. +It is usually best to remove the core before cooking, and, when the +apple (as for compote) is not to be otherwise cut after paring, it +should be cored before the skin is taken off, to prevent breaking. + +The various forms of boiled and steamed apples are attractive and +generally liked. The requisites are: To select good fruit and wash it +clean before cutting; to remove only a thin paring, _all_ of the core, +and the bruised, discolored and defective parts; to intensify rather +than obscure the apple flavor, using only enough of sugar, spice, or +lemon, when any is needed, to accomplish this purpose; to use granite or +porcelain-lined utensils (avoiding even tin covers) and silver or wooden +spoons; to retain by slow cooking and careful handling the perfect form +of the fruit, or else to produce, by stirring and straining, a light, +lumpless sauce; to serve the apple preparation with the same respectful +and dainty care that is usually bestowed upon the rarer but not more +worthy pineapple and orange. + +In the summer and autumn, when the fruit is at its best, no additional +flavor is needed. Toward spring, when it becomes less palatable, the +deficiency may be best supplied with a little lemon juice and grated +rind, a bit of pineapple or quince, a few drops of almond extract or +rose water, or a few whole cloves. Sweet apples which are dry and rather +tasteless may be utilized satisfactorily if stewed, canned or preserved +with one-third their bulk of quince. + +Apples, Raw, for Breakfast.--Select fresh, unspotted apples of good +flavor, but not very sour, wash and wipe thoroughly, and arrange +tastefully, alone or with other fruit. For serving, use small plates and +fruit-knives, to be removed with them. Individual taste must decide +whether the fruit should be eaten before or after the heavier part of +the breakfast. + +Apples and Cream.--A delicious breakfast dish, to be served with the +cooked cereal or alone, consists of fresh, mellow, sweet apples, pared +and sliced, sprinkled with fine sugar and dressed with cream. + +Apples and Bread and Milk.--For a summer luncheon, a bowl of rich milk +and bread may be pleasantly varied by the addition of a ripe sweet +apple, pared and thinly sliced. If the fruit is not thoroughly ripe and +mellow, it is improved by slow baking until quite soft. + +Baked Apples.--Select moderately tart or very juicy sweet apples, of +equal size. Wash them, remove the cores (or at least the blossom ends) +and any imperfections, with the skin also, if it is objectionable. Put +in a shallow baking dish, and fill the cavities with sugar and such +flavoring as seems to be demanded, allowing from one-third to one-half +of a cup of sugar and about one-fourth of a teaspoonful of nutmeg or +cinnamon to eight apples, with sometimes the juice and grated rind of +half a lemon. Cover the bottom of the dish with boiling water (which may +need to be replenished if the fruit is not very juicy), and bake in a +hot oven until soft, basting often with the syrup in the dish. Sweet +apples need to bake longer and more slowly than sour, and when done +should be very soft. Set the baking dish in a cool place until the fruit +is almost cold, then transfer the apples to a glass dish and pour the +syrup, which should be thick and amber colored, around them. + +Apples in Bloom. (By consent, from "Boston Cooking-School Cook-Book," by +Miss Farmer.)--Select eight red apples, cook in boiling water until +soft, turning them often. Have water half surround apples. Remove skins +carefully, that the red color may remain, and arrange on a serving dish. +To the water add one cup sugar, grated rind one-half lemon, and juice +one orange; simmer until reduced to one cup. Cool, and pour over apples. +Serve with sweetened whipped cream or cream sauce. + +Baked Apple-Sauce. (By consent, from "Every-Day Dishes," by Mrs. E. E. +Kellogg.)--Pare, core and quarter apples to fill an earthen crock or +deep pudding dish, taking care to use apples of uniform degree of +hardness and pieces of the same size. For two quarts of fruit thus +prepared, add a cup of water and, if the apples are sour, a cup of +sugar. Cover closely, and bake in a moderate oven several hours, or +until of a dark red color. Sweet apples and quinces, in the proportion +of two parts of apple to one of quince, baked in this way, are also +good. Cut the apples into quarters, but slice the quinces much thinner +as they are more difficult to cook. Put a layer of quince on the bottom +of the dish, and alternate with layers of apple until the dish is full. +Add cold water to half cover the fruit, and stew in the oven, well +covered, without stirring, until tender. Fruit cooked in this way may be +canned while hot and kept for a long period. + +Stewed Apples.--Pare, quarter and core six or eight tart apples; put +them into a granite kettle, strew with one cup or less of sugar, add +juice of half a lemon and a few bits of the yellow rind; cover with +boiling water and simmer (not boil) until tender. Dish carefully, +without breaking, and serve cold. + +Green-Apple Sauce.--For sour green apples it is best to use a sharp +silver knife, to prevent discoloration. Cut the apples in quarters, +remove the cores and skin, and drop them as fast as pared into a bowl of +cold water. Skim them out into a granite kettle with a large bottom, so +that there will not be much depth to the apples. Add boiling water +enough to show among the pieces, cover tightly, and cook quickly. Shake +the pan occasionally, and as soon as the fruit is soft mash it with a +silver fork, add sugar to taste, and when it is dissolved remove from +the fire. Serve hot or cold. This sauce should be free from lumps, light +colored and not very sweet. A pinch of salt may be an improvement. + +Apple-Sauce For Goose or Pork.--Pare, quarter and core six tart apples. +Put them in a granite saucepan, cover with water, boil until tender, and +press through a colander; add a teaspoonful of butter, a dash of nutmeg +or cinnamon, and sugar to taste, being careful to keep the sauce tart. + +Canned Apples. (By consent, from Mrs. Rorer's "Philadelphia +Cook-Book.")--To four pounds of apples use one pound of sugar, the juice +and yellow rind of one lemon, and one quart of water. Choose fine ripe +Pippins or Bellflowers. Pare, core, and throw them into cold water. When +you have sufficient to fill one or two jars, lift them carefully from +the water, weigh, then put them in a porcelain-lined kettle, cover with +boiling water, bring quickly to the boiling-point, and then stand them +over a moderate fire, where they will scarcely bubble, until tender. +While they are cooking, put the sugar and water into another kettle, +stir with a clean wooden spoon until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved, +add the lemon, and boil three minutes. With a perforated skimmer lift +the apples from the water, hold a moment until drained, and then slide +them carefully into the boiling syrup; continue until the bottom of the +kettle is covered; boil until the apples are sufficiently tender to +admit a straw, then lift them carefully and slide one at time into the +jar. The jars should be thoroughly cleaned and heated and set on a +folded wet towel. After passing a silver spoon handle around the inside +of the filled jar to break any air bubbles present, screw on the top as +quickly as possible. Stand the jars in a warm place in the kitchen over +night, and in the morning again tighten the covers and put away in a +cool, dark, dry closet. + +Apple Compote. (By consent, from Mrs. Lincoln's "Boston +Cook-Book.")--Make a syrup with one cup of sugar, one cup of water, and +a square inch of stick cinnamon. Boil slowly for ten minutes, skimming +well. Core and pare eight or ten tart apples and cook until nearly done +in the syrup. Drain, and cook them for a few minutes in the oven, with +the door open. Boil the syrup until almost like a jelly. Arrange the +apples on a dish for serving, fill the core cavities with jelly or +marmalade, and pour the syrup over them. Put whipped cream around the +base and garnish the cream with jelly. + +Apple Preserves. (By consent, from Mrs. Rorer's "Philadelphia +Cook-Book.")--Core and pare fine ripe Pippins, and cut them into +quarters. Weigh, and to each pound allow one pound of granulated sugar +and a half pint of boiling water, the grated rind of one and the juice +of two lemons. Boil the sugar and water until clear (about three +minutes), skimming when necessary; add the lemon juice and rind, then +the apples, and _simmer_ gently until they are clear and tender, but not +broken; then stand aside to cool. When cold put them into jars, cover +closely, and stand them in a cool, dark place for one week. At the end +of that time turn them carefully into the kettle, bring them to the +boiling-point, and _simmer_ for five minutes; then return them to the +jars, cover closely with tissue paper brushed over with the white of an +egg, and put in a dark, cool place to keep. + +Apple Butter. (By consent, from Mrs. Rorer's "Philadelphia +Cook-Book.")--This should be made from new cider, fresh from the press, +and not yet fermented. Fill a porcelain-lined kettle with cider, and +boil until reduced one-half. Then boil another kettleful in the same +way, and so continue until you have sufficient quantity. To every four +gallons of boiled cider allow a half-bushel of nice, juicy apples, +pared, cored, and quartered. The cider should be boiled the day before +you make the apple butter. Put the boiled cider in a very large kettle, +and add as many apples as can be kept moist. Stir frequently, and when +the apples are soft beat with a wooden stick until they are reduced to a +pulp. Cook and stir continuously until the consistency is that of soft +marmalade and the color is very dark brown. Have boiled cider at hand in +case it becomes too thick, and apples if too thin. Twenty minutes before +you take it from the fire add ground cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. It +requires no sugar. When cold, put into stone jars and cover closely. + +Apple Jelly. (By consent, from Mrs. Rorer's "Philadelphia Cook +Book.")--Lady Blush or Fall Pippins are best for jelly. The first make a +bright-red jelly, and the latter an almost white jelly. Wipe the fruit, +cut it into pieces without paring or removing the seeds. Put into kettle +and barely cover with cold water; cover the kettle, and boil slowly +until the apples are very tender; then drain them through a flannel +jelly bag--do not squeeze or the jelly will be cloudy. To every pint of +this juice allow one pound of granulated sugar. Put the juice into the +kettle and bring it quickly to the boiling-point; add the sugar and stir +until dissolved, and then boil rapidly and continuously until it +jellies, skimming as a scum rises to the surface. Twenty minutes is +usually sufficient for the boiling, though not always. After fifteen +minutes' boiling begin the testing by taking out one teaspoonful of the +boiling jelly, pouring it into the bottom of a saucepan, and standing it +in a cool place for a moment. Scrape it up with the side of a spoon, +and, if jellied, the surface will be partly solid; if not, boil a few +minutes longer and try again; as soon as it jellies roll the tumblers in +boiling water and fill with the boiling liquid. Stand aside until cold +and firm (about twenty-four hours). If the glasses have lids put them +on; if not, cover with two thicknesses of tissue paper and paste the +edges down over the edge of the tumbler. Then moisten the papers with a +sponge dipped in cold water, so that when it dries it will shrink and be +tight. Keep in a cool, dark place. + +Apple Rose Cream. (By consent, from Mrs. E. E. Kellogg's "Every-Day +Dishes.")--Wash, core, slice and cook without paring a dozen fresh Snow +apples until soft and very dry. Rub through a colander to remove skins, +add sugar to taste and the beaten whites of two eggs, beating vigorously +until stiff; add a teaspoonful of rose-water for flavoring, and serve at +once or keep on ice. It is important that the apples be very dry, as +otherwise the cream will not be light. Other varieties of apples may be +used, and flavored with vanilla or pineapple. It is sometimes better to +steam the apples than to stew them tender. + +Apple Tapioca Pudding. (By consent, from Mrs. Lincoln's "Boston +Cook-Book.")--Pick over and wash three-quarters of a cup of pearl +tapioca. Pour one quart of boiling water over it, and cook in the double +boiler until transparent; stir often and add a half teaspoonful of salt. +Core and pare seven apples. Put them in a round baking dish and fill the +core cavities with sugar and lemon juice. Pour the tapioca over them +and bake until the apples are very soft. Serve hot or cold, with sugar +and cream. A delicious variation may be made by using half pears or +canned quinces and half apples. + +Apple and Rice Pudding.--Steam one cupful of rice in two cupfuls of +boiling salted water until soft. With this, line a buttered pudding dish +on the sides and bottom, leaving a portion for the top. Fill the dish +with thinly sliced tart apples and cover with the remainder of the rice. +Put the dish in a steamer and steam until the apples are found to be +tender by running a fork into them. Set it away to cool and invert the +dish so that the pudding will come out entire. Serve with sweetened +cream, thin custard, or fruit sauce. Flavoring may be added to the apple +according to taste. + +Dutch Apple Cake. (By consent, from Mrs. Lincoln's "Boston +Cook-Book.")--One pint flour, one-half teaspoonful salt, two heaping +teaspoonfuls baking-powder, one-fourth cup butter, one egg, one scant +cup milk, four sour apples, two tablespoonfuls sugar. Mix the dry +ingredients in the order given; rub in the butter, beat the egg and mix +it with the milk, then stir this into the dry mixture. The dough should +be soft enough to spread half an inch thick on a shallow baking pan. +Core, pare and cut four or five apples into eighths; lay them in +parallel rows on top of the dough, the sharp edge down, and press enough +to make the edge penetrate slightly. Sprinkle the sugar on the apple. +Bake in a hot oven twenty or thirty minutes. To be eaten hot with butter +as a tea cake, or with lemon sauce or with sugar and cream as a pudding. + +Scalloped Apples. (By consent, from Mrs. Lincoln's "Boston +Cook-Book.")--Mix half a cup of sugar and an eighth of a teaspoonful of +cinnamon or the grated rind of half a lemon. Melt half a cup of butter +and stir it into one pint of soft bread crumbs; prepare three pints of +sliced apples. Butter a pudding dish, put in a layer of crumbs, then +sliced apple, and sprinkle with sugar; then another layer of crumbs, +apple, and sugar, until the materials are used. Have a thick layer of +crumbs on top. When the apples are not juicy, add half a cup of cold +water; and if not tart apples, add the juice of half a lemon. Bake about +an hour, covering at first to prevent burning. Serve with cream. Ripe +berries and other acid fruits may be used instead of the apples, and +oat-meal or cracked-wheat mush in place of the bread crumbs. + +Brown Betty. (By consent, from "Century Cook-Book.")--In a quart pudding +dish arrange alternate layers of sliced apples and bread crumbs; season +each layer with bits of butter, a little sugar, and a pinch each of +ground cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. When the dish is full pour over +it a half cupful each of molasses and water mixed; cover the top with +crumbs. Place the dish in a pan containing hot water, and bake for +three-quarters of an hour, or until the apples are soft. Serve with +cream or with any sauce. Raisins or chopped almonds improve the pudding. + +Friar's Omelet. (Mrs. Treat.)--Stew six or seven good-sized apples as +for apple-sauce; when cooked and still warm stir in one teaspoonful of +butter and one cupful of sugar; when cold, stir in three well-beaten +eggs and a little lemon juice. Now put a small piece of butter into a +saucepan, and, when hot, add to it a cupful of bread crumbs and stir +until they assume a light-brown color. Butter a pudding mold, and +sprinkle on the bottom and sides as many of these bread crumbs as will +adhere; fill in the apple preparation, sprinkle bread crumbs on top, +bake it for fifteen or twenty minutes, and turn it out on a good-sized +platter. It can be eaten with or without a sweet sauce. + +Baked Apple Dumplings.--Make a short pie-crust; roll it thin and cut it +into squares large enough to cover an apple. Select apples of the same +size, core and pare them, and fill the space with sugar, butter, and a +little ground cinnamon or nutmeg. Place an apple in each square of +pie-crust; wet the edges with water or white of egg, and fold together +so that the points meet on the top. Pinch and turn the edges so that +they are fluted. Bake in a moderate oven about forty minutes, or until +the apples are soft without having lost their form. Serve with hard +sauce or with sugar and cream. + +Steamed Apple Dumplings.--Core and pare six or eight apples. Make a +biscuit dough, using four cups of flour, two heaping teaspoonfuls of +baking-powder, one large tablespoonful of butter, one teaspoonful of +salt, and one cup of milk. Use more or less milk as is needed to make a +soft dough that will roll out without being sticky. Roll the dough about +half an inch thick and cut in squares to cover the apples, as in the +preceding recipe, after sweetening and flavoring. Place the dumplings on +a dinner plate which can be set in the steamer. Steam forty minutes and +serve from the same plate, with hard sauce or sweetened cream. A +variation of this recipe, which is sometimes more convenient, is as +follows: Cut the apples into eighths, and put them, with half a cup of +water, into a granite pudding pan; roll the biscuit dough out to fit the +pan, and cover the apples; cover the pan, and steam or cook in the oven. +Sprinkle sugar thickly over the top and serve in the pudding pan, with +hard sauce in another dish. + +Apple Pie. (By consent, from "Boston Cooking-School Cook-Book," by Miss +Farmer.)--Four or five sour apples, one-third cup sugar, one-fourth +teaspoon grated nutmeg, one-eighth teaspoon salt, one teaspoon butter, +one teaspoon lemon juice, few gratings lemon rind. Line pie plate with +paste. Pare, core, and cut the apples into eighths; put row around the +plate one-half inch from the edge, and work toward the center until the +plate is covered; then pile on the remainder. Mix sugar, nutmeg, salt, +lemon juice and rind and sprinkle over the apples. Dot over with butter. +Wet edges of under crust, cover with upper crust, and press edges +together. Bake forty to forty-five minutes in a moderate oven. A very +good pie may be made without butter or lemon. Cinnamon may be +substituted for nutmeg. Evaporated apples soaked over night in cold +water may be used in place of the fresh fruit. + +Apple Fritters.--Core and pare three or four apples. Cut them crosswise +into slices one-third of an inch thick, leaving the opening in the +center. Sprinkle with lemon, sugar, and spice. Let stand one hour. Dip +each slice in fritter batter, and fry in deep, hot fat. Drain, and +sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve hot, with or without hard sauce. + +Batter For Fritters.--One cup flour, one-fourth teaspoonful salt, +two-thirds cup milk, yolks and whites of two eggs beaten separately, one +tablespoonful olive oil or melted butter. Mix salt and flour, add milk +gradually, yolks of eggs, butter, and stiff whites. A tablespoonful of +sugar may be added, if liked. + +Fried Apples.--Cut slices one-half inch thick across the apple without +removing skin or core, or cut the apple in quarters and remove the core. +Saute the apples in butter or drippings until tender and light brown, +but not soft enough to lose form. Serve on the same dish with pork +chops. + +Apple Water (for invalids).--Wipe, core and pare one large sour apple. +Put two teaspoonfuls sugar in the core cavity, and bake until tender. +Pour one cup boiling water over the baked apple, let it stand one-half +hour, strain, and serve. + + + + +INDEX. + + +American apples abroad: + exports, 10; + comparison of seasons, 12 + +Analysis of the apple, 9; + of apple ash, 8 + +Apple, what it is, 3; + business, 10; + culture, 191; + for the table, 218; + tree, chemistry of, 5 + +Apple trees in district No. 1, 42; + in district No. 2, 121; + in district No. 3, 133; + in district No. 4, 154 + + +Birds, 69 + + +Cellars for apples, Evans, 202; + other, 45, 109, 158 + +Chemistry of apples, 7, 8, 9; + of apple trees, 5; + of prairie soil, 6 + +Cider, boiled, 202; + sweet, 202; + vinegar, 50, 202 + +Cold storage, 44, 64, 189; + by Geo. Richardson, 198 + +Crabs, 104 + +Culls, to use, 202 + + +Description of varieties: + Arkansas Black, 41; + Autumn Pearmain, 29; + Autumn Strawberry, 37; + Bailey's Sweet, 30; + Baldwin, 30; + Baltzby, 33; + Ben Davis, 15; + Benoni, 38; + Bentley's Sweet, 35; + Broadwell, 36; + Celestia, 27; + Chenango (Strawberry), 29; + Cooper's Early (White), 31; + Dominie, 39; + Dr. Watson, 35; + Duchess of Oldenburg, 32; + Early Harvest, 32; + Early Joe, 39; + Early Margaret, 41; + Early Ripe, 35; + Early Summer Pearmain, 39; + Emperor, 41; + English Sweet, 34; + Fulton's Strawberry, 34; + Gano, 20; + Garretson's Early, 39; + Gilpin, 37; + Golden Sweet, 31; + Grimes' Golden Pippin, 24; + Haas, 29; + Holland Pippin, 34; + Hubbardston's Nonsuch, 34; + Huntsman's Favorite, 25; + Imperial, 33; + Ingram, 26; + Jefferis, 39; + Jonathan, 18; + Keswick Codlin, 40; + King of Tompkins County, 28; + Large Yellow Bough, 32; + Lawver, 28; + Limber Twig, 37; + Little Romanite, 37; + Lowell, 27; + Maiden's Blush, 22; + Mammoth Black Twig, 25; + Milam, 37; + Minkler, 28; + Missouri Pippin, 19; + Mother, 41; + Mountaineer, 33; + Muster, 35; + Nelson's (Sweet), 33; + Northern Spy, 31; + Ortley, 38; + Peck's Pleasant, 26; + Pennock, 40; + Pewaukee, 33; + Rambo, 36; + Rawle's Janet, 21; + Red Astrachan, 33; + Red June, 30; + Rhode Island Greening, 40; + Roman Stem, 3; + Rome Beauty, 36; + Smith's Cider, 22; + Smokehouse, 29; + Snow, 37; + Stark, 28; + Stayman's Summer, 38; + Stayman's Winesap, 38; + Summer Queen, 28; + Superb, 36; + Sweet June, 30; + Sweet Bough, 32; + Twenty Ounce, 32; + Wagener, 35; + Wealthy, 30; + White Bellflower (see Ortley), 38; + White Juneating, 34; + White Pippin, 39; + White Winter Pearmain, 29; + Whitney, 41; + Winesap, 16, 38; + Yellow Transparent, 35; + York Imperial, 21; + +Discussion on packages, 197; + on tree washes and borers, 210 + +Dried apples, 203 + +Drugging trees, 188 + + +Evaporated apples, 203 + +Evaporator, Moyer's, 201; + Wellhouse, 200 + + +Fruit house, 202 + + +Grain injurious to orchards, 57 + + +Hogs in orchard, 198 + +House for apples, 148 + + +Insects: + Bud moth, 212; + Canker-worm, 204; + Codling-moth, 206; + Curculio, 213; + Flat-headed borer, 208; + Fringed-wing bud moth, 215; + Leaf-crumpler, 213; + Leaf-roller, 213; + Root-louse, 214; + Round-headed borer, 210; + Tent-caterpillar, 206; + Twig-borer, 214; + Twig-girdler, 214; + Twig-pruner, 214; + Woolly aphis, 214; + Worms, 201 + +Irrigation, 122, 124 + + +Laws for orchardists, 4 + + +Orchard treatment, by W. D. Cellar, 194; + culture, by James McNicol, 193 + + +Packages, 197 + +Picking and packing, by D. S. Haines, 196 + sacks, by F. Wellhouse, 196 + + +Quantity in states exceeding Kansas, 9 + in Kansas, 9 + + +Rabbits, 188 + +Rabbit remedies, 188, 217 + +Rabbit trap, Wellhouse, 217 + +Receipts for cooking apples: + Apples, baked, 219; + in "bloom", 219; + with bread and milk, 219; + for breakfast, 219; + Brown Betty, 222; + butter, 202, 221; + canned, 220; + compote, 220; + and cream, 219; + Dutch cake, 222; + dumplings, baked, 148, 223; + dumplings, steamed, 223; + Friar's omelet, 222; + fried, 223; + fritters, 223; + jelly, 221; + pie, 223; + preserves, 220; + and rice pudding, 222; + rose cream, 221; + sauce, baked, 219; + sauce for goose, 220; + sauce, for pork, 220; + sauce, green, 220; + scalloped, 222; + stewed, 220; + for the table, 218; + tapioca pudding, 221; + water, for invalids, 223 + + +Secretary's summary of report, 187 + +Sorting table, 196 + +Spraying, 188 + +Spray mixture, 123 + +State apple production, 9 + + +Time of apple blooming, 9 + +Trees, number in first district, 42; + number in second district, 121; + number in third district, 133; + number in fourth district, 154 + + +Varieties referred to in this book, 15 + +Voted list of apple varieties, 14 + +Vinegar, 50 + + +Washes for borers, 210 + +Weight of apples, 9 + +Wellhouse apple orchard, 13 + +Whole-root grafts, 187 + +Windbreaks, 187 + +Worms, 204 + + +REPORTS ON APPLE CULTURE. + +FIRST DISTRICT--NORTHEASTERN COUNTIES. + +Atchison county: + Brown, Henry L., Muscotah, 101; + Gaylord, J. S., Muscotah, 73; + Heath, Seneca, Muscotah, 116; + Rice, H. M., Muscotah, 96; + Tucker, W. H., Effingham, 91; + Wilcox, J. B., Muscotah, 95 + +Brown county: + Chase, Elbridge, Padonia, 98; + Fairchild, Ernst, Hiawatha, 110; + Gregg, John, Willis, 112; + Hanson, Neils, Willis, 111; + Hewett, J. A., Hiawatha, 53; + Penny, H. E., Hiawatha, 84; + Wise, Geo. T., Reserve, 95 + +Clay county: + Arnold, A. D., Longford, 73; + Cooper, H. C., Morgantown, 95; + Macy, I. N., Longford, 86; + Marty, S., Longford, 83; + Olsen, Theo., Green, 100; + Reed, John, Oak Hill, 106; + Sanders, Max, Broughton, 105; + Wolf, Isaac E., Longford, 119 + +Cloud county: + Domony, S. H., Aurora, 55; + Howard, P. M., Clyde, 56; + Kimmal, Levi, Concordia, 116; + Lawry, James, Hollis, 116; + Mosher, J. B., Lawrenceburg, 118; + Munger, A., Hollis, 67; + Travis, J. T., Aurora, 88; + Walton, Reuben, Aurora, 114 + +Dickinson county: + Barnes, George R., Chapman, 106; + Bert, Samuel, Moonlight, 76; + Dunlap, James, Detroit, 53; + Engle, A. M., Moonlight, 107; + Hoffman, Eli, Donegal, 90; + Taylor, T. E., Pearl, 108; + Taylor, J. H., Rhinehart, 115 + +Doniphan county: + Gurwell, Wm., Fanning, 75; + Hazen, J. D., Leona, 85; + Montgomery, Robt., Troy, 54; + Perry, A., Troy, 72; + Rea, Joseph C., Brenner, 90 + +Douglas county: + Griesa, A. C., Lawrence, 87; + Griesa, A. H., Lawrence, 113; + Kern, W. D., Baldwin, 79; + Reynolds, Samuel, Lawrence, 48 + +Franklin county: + Brown, David, Richmond, 65; + Taylor, Isaac M., Richmond, 111 + +Geary county: + Cutter, Wm., Junction City, 112 + +Jackson county: + Bateman, J. H., Holton, 98; + Dixon, F. W., Holton, 54; + Osborne, R. D., Soldier, 77; + Williams, J. W., Holton, 81 + +Jefferson county: + Atkinson, J. W., Perry, 109; + Glaspey, E. M., Nortonville, 91; + Gray, E. M., Perry, 58; + Kleinhans, A. J., Grantville, 109; + Miller, Lou, Perry, 75; + Roberts, H. R., Perry, 78 + +Johnson county: + Beckley, J. C., Spring Hill, 71; + Diehl, E. P., Olathe, 66 + +Leavenworth county: + Barns, D. N., Leavenworth, 89; + Gaiser, C. D., Lansing, 115; + Goble, Francis, Leavenworth, 65; + Henry, William J., Lowemont, 92; + Roach, J. H., Lowemont, 72; + Starns, J. B., Fairmount, 89; + Stayman, Dr. J., Leavenworth, 59; + Wellhouse, Walter, Topeka (orchard in Leavenworth county), 42 + +Marshall county: + Stout, Stephen, Axtell, 103 + +Morris county: + Harris, F. B., White City, 82; + Hathaway, V. E., Council Grove, 83 + +Morris county: + Robinson, W. H., Dunlap, 115; + Sample, John E., Beman, 51; + Sharp, James, Parkerville, 80; + Swanson, Andrew, Dwight, 81 + +Nemaha county: + Anderson, T. S., Oneida, 86; + Oberndorf, jr., A., Centralia, 56; + Riggs, H. C., Wetmore, 96; + Ruhlin, J. F., Wetmore, 89; + Wilcox, F. W., Corning, 101; + Williams, James M., Home, 94 + +Osage county: + Dubois, H., Burlingame, 108; + Ferris, H. L., Osage City, 55; + Fine, Godfrey, Maxson, 99; + Martindale, C. D., Scranton, 46 + +Ottawa county: + Morton, Howard, Tescott, 86; + Steele, J. L., Minneapolis, 83 + +Pottawatomie county: + Christenson, N., Mariadahl, 78; + Hanson, J. F., Olsburg, 91; + Weltner, M. D., Westmoreland, 82 + +Republic county: + Arbuthnot, Thos., Cuba, 97; + Fulcomer, John, Belleville, 74; + Smith, Fayette A., Belleville, 93 + +Riley county: + Anderson, James, Leonardville, 101; + Axleton, A. G., Randolph, 87; + Griffing, W. J., Manhattan, 49; + Kimble, Sam., Manhattan, 88; + Schermerhorn, F. A., Ogden, 102; + Spohr, G. E., Manhattan, 76; + Warden, Chas., Leonardville, 92 + +Saline county: + Jones, H. L., Salina, 77; + Wilson, James, Assaria, 80 + +Shawnee county: + Bond, William, Rossville, 113; + Buckman, A. H., Topeka, 69; + Buckman, Thomas, Topeka, 105; + Cecil, J. F., North Topeka, 94; + Higgins, E., Seabrook, 71; + Lux, Phillip, Topeka, 93; + Moore, A. C., Wanamaker, 104 + +Wabaunsee county: + Gardiner, C. C., Bradford, 119; + Taylor, C. H., Eskridge, 87; + Taylor, P. S., Eskridge, 97 + +Washington county: + Avery, J. B., Clifton, 85; + Bedker, Theo., Linn, 74; + Brown, Thomas, Palmer, 117; + Campbell, J. C., Campbell, 84; + Courter, J. A., Barnes, 117; + Graves, John, Day, 99; + Houghton, A. E., Weltbote, 44; + Sandy, Ed., Linn, 117; + Seifert, Frank, Strawberry, 88; + Spiers, Alexander, Linn, 74; + Williamson, Dr. Chas., Washington, 110; + Wolverton, E. K., Barnes, 52; + Wolverton, Jesse, Barnes, 99; + Young, William, Brantford, 84 + +Wyandotte county: + Cellar, W. D., Edwardsville, 114; + Chandler, A., Argentine, 103; + Haines, D. S., Edwardsville, 58; + Holsinger, F., Rosedale, 51; + Taylor, Edwin, Edwardsville, 45 + +SECOND DISTRICT--NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES. + +Cheyenne county: + Campbell, B. F., St. Francis, 125 + +Decatur county: + Ashcroft, L. P., Shibboleth, 123; + Caldwell, J. R., Oberlin, 124; + Clark, Isaac, Oberlin, 126; + Johnson, P. T., Oberlin, 128; + Sales, S. H. & Son, Norcatur, 127; + Street, W. D., Oberlin, 124; + Wagner, P., Dresden, 129 + +Ellsworth county: + Griffiths, J. D., Kanopolis, 125; + Hudson Bros., Kanopolis, 130; + Somer, J. W., Wilson, 125 + +Gove county: + Royer, Jesse, Gove, 132 + +Lincoln county: + Baird, William, Vesper, 121; + Kroenlin, John M. C., Lincoln, 127; + Noon, Peter, Vesper, 122; + Weidman, Jacob, Lincoln, 123 + +Logan county: + David, John E., Winona, 128 + +Mitchell county: + Brumage, W. J., Beloit, 128; + Elder, John, Glen Elder, 129; + Perdue, C. A., Beloit, 130; + Stockard, W. B., Beloit, 129 + +Norton county: + Stevens, D. E., Norton, 132 + +Phillips county: + Dutcher, F. T. M., Phillipsburg, 131 + +Rawlins county: + Williams, James L., McDonald, 124; + Wilson, M. A., Atwood, 131 + +Smith county: + Wells, M. E., Athol, 26 + +Thomas county: + Vail, Chas., Colby, 130 + +Trego county: + O'Toole, E. W., Collyer, 131 + +THIRD DISTRICT--SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES. + +Barber county: + Blackmore, A. C., Sharon, 134; + Daniels, E. T., Kiowa, 136; + Huff, A. S., Sharon, 147; + Leonhart, B., Kiowa, 146; + Osborne, W. G., Medicine Lodge, 143; + Pimm, John, Enon, 144; + White, D. D., Enon, 136 + +Barton county: + Elliott, Geo. T., Great Bend, 153; + Gunn, C. L., Heizer, 149; + Johnson, Amos, Ellinwood, 137; + Moore, Fred., Great Bend, 143; + McCullough, Ben., Ellinwood, 146; + Rediger, Jacob, Maherville, 152 + +Comanche county: + Hollenback, G. W., Coldwater, 148 + +Edwards county: + Liggitt, J. S., Belpre, 147 + +Finney county: + Craig, James, Garden City, 151; + Simon, John, Garden City, 150 + +Ford county: + Drake, A. S., Bucklin, 143; + Mayrath, Nicholas, Dodge, 152; + Patterson, A. N., Ford, 135 + +Grant county: + Miller, Henry, Ulysses, 135; + Wilson, M. M., Zionville, 152 + +Gray county: + Emery, J. O., Cimarron, 146 + +Harper county: + Bailey, John, Harper, 151; + Curran, J. C., Curran, 141; + Jesseph, H. E., Danville, 141; + Lewis, Joseph, Bluff City, 144 + +Kearny county: + Longstreth, C. H., Lakin, 139 + +Kiowa county: + Einsel, A. D., Greensburg, 135; + Reeve, E. F., Greensburg, 148 + +Kingman county: + Albright, J. W., Julia, 169; + Gosch, John H., Norwich, 141; + Leach, L. W., Kingman, 141 + +Lane county: + Bradstreet, D. E., Dighton, 149 + +Meade county: + Cox, B. F., Fowler, 145; + Vick, G. O., Fowler, 134 + +Morton county: + Morgan, L. G., Richfield, 138 + +Pawnee county: + Dickinson, S. S., Larned, 137; + Hansberry, F. F., Larned, 138 + +Pratt county: + Ablard, L. L., Lawndale, 149; + Everhart, J. T., Pratt, 151 + +Reno county: + Bainum, Joseph, Langdon, 142; + Hinds, John, Olcott, 135; + Morgan, E., Hutchinson, 139 + Myers, Dr. James, Hutchinson, 145; + Switzer, A. W., Hutchinson, 140 + +Rice county: + Bohrer, Dr. G., Chase, 150; + Hodgson, H. Clay, Little River, 149; + Schlichter, J. B., Sterling, 153 + +Seward county: + Jones, Sam., Springfield, 142 + +Scott county: + McNeal, D. J., Scott, 133 + +Stevens county: + Hockett, Thomas E., Hugoton, 152 + +FOURTH DISTRICT--SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES. + +Anderson county: + Simon, Ebert, Welda, 186 + +Bourbon county: + Bailey, S. H., Uniontown, 168; + Hall, F. S., Fulton, 184; + Saxe, J. B., Fort Scott, 171 + +Butler county: + Diemurt, Chas., Murdock, 175; + Garrison, S. F. C., El Dorado, 171; + Price, William, El Dorado, 173; + Snyder, Wm., Towanda, 154 + +Chase county: + Gamer, Mike, Strong City, 166; + May, Dick, Elk, 176; + Pflager, Chas. F., Elk, 167 + +Chautauqua county: + Burden, William, Leeds, 186; + Ellison, J., Chautauqua, 177; + Goodell, J. W., Sedan, 159; + Guest, T. H., Grafton, 158; + Hart, John, Sedan, 165; + Helmick, Jason, Cloverdale, 159; + House, J. K. P., Cloverdale, 185; + Rhodes, G. W., Lowe, 159; + Smith, W. N., Brownsville, 163 + +Cherokee county: + Dennison, A. S., Columbus, 161; + Haines, L. J., Galena, 170; + Neil, Henry, Weir, 181; + Seibert, D. C., Columbus, 162; + Smith, Thomas W., Baxter Springs, 167 + +Coffey county: + Brown, S. B., Waverly, 176; + Kendrick, C. L., Waverly, 169; + Mark, R. N., Strawn, 184; + Schenck, Geo., Le Roy, 167; + Weatherby, S. S., Le Roy, 174 + +Cowley county: + Bilsing, J. H., Udall, 183; + Keller, Johnson, Arkansas City, 162; + Savage, F. M., Burden, 175; + Wahlenmaier, Fred., Arkansas City, 156 + +Crawford county: + French, W. M., Chicopee, 184 + +Elk county: + Condra, H. A., Longton, 157 + +Greenwood county: + Barngrover, W. M., Hamilton, 180 + +Harvey county: + Hackney, J. S., Walton, 164; + Lehman, David, Halstead, 180; + Saltzman, A. J., Burrton, 170 + +Labette county: + Hildreth, C. E., Altamont, 163; + Hildreth, Geo. A., Altamont, 161; + Sanford, N., Oswego, 177; + Wickersham, C. G., Parsons, 178 + +Linn county: + Cozad, D. W., La Cygne, 179; + Fleeharty, W. M., La Cygne, 182 + +Lyon county: + Beavers, E. O., Ottumwa, 176; + Chambers, A. D., Hartford, 160; + Cochran, J. T., Ottumwa, 181; + Walters, W. T., Emporia, 168 + +Marion county: + Fraser, D. J., Peabody, 118; + McNicol, James, Lost Springs, 166, 193 + +McPherson county: + Heckethorn, O. W., McPherson, 179 + +Montgomery county: + Bowen, P. C., Cherryvale, 164; + Good, Jacob, Coffeyville, 191; + Kenoyer, F. L., Independence, 182; + Mullineaux, J. A., Cherryvale, 174; + Ross, J. C., Havana, 185 + +Neosho county: + Gardner, W. W., Chanute, 180; + Record, O. M., Thayer, 175 + +Sedgwick county: + Ayers, G. K., Furley, 156; + Lawrence, R. E., Wichita, 174 + +Sumner county: + Adams, D. M., Rome, 173 + +Wilson county: + Burnett, F. H., Benedict, 183; + Graham, R. O., Altoona, 155; + Magill, John A., Roper, 181; + Roney, B., Benedict, 160 + +Woodson county: + Davidson, C. R., Yates Center, 156; + Lovett, L. L., Toronto, 144; + Mann, A. B., Toronto, 179 + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + + +Subscripts that appeared in chemical formulas have simply been replaced +with the regular character in the text version. Thus the water is H2O. + +Mixed fractions in the text version have been represented with a hyphen +separating the whole and fractional parts. Thus two and five eighths is +2-5/8. + +There was no table of contents in the original; I added a short one for +the reader's convenience. + +Changed 'horticulural' to 'horticultural' on page 4: "horticultural +societies". + +Changed 'CoO' (cobalt oxide) to 'CaO' (calcium oxide) in header of table +on page 7. + +The numbers in table No. 1 on page 9 only add to 97 lbs. I left them as +is. A good guess would be that water should be 85.66 lbs. + +Changed '49-5/9' to '45-5/9' to correct the arithmetic on page 9: +"averaging 45-5/9 pounds per barrel". + +The last two lines of text on page 11, "like this: One barrel Ben Davis, +$3.80; freight, $1.35; commission, 20 cents; net proceeds, $2.25. This +is supposing they should reach the other side loose.", apparently belong +on page 12. They were moved after "A report of sales would read +something". + +The acreages for the Wellhouse orchards don't add up right on page 14, +but I just left them as is. + +On pages 29 and 30, there are two varieties both called Haas. I've left +them as is. + +Changed 'greet' to 'great' on page 40: "on a great variety of soils". + +Changed 'Average' to 'Acreage' in table on page 42 to be consistent with +other tables: "Acreage, about". + +Changed 'caterpiller' to 'caterpillar' on page 43: "canker-worm and +tent-caterpillar". + +Changed 'successfuly' to 'successfully' on page 43: "never successfully +combated". + +Changed 'Kanses' to 'Kansas' on page 48: "suitable for Kansas". + +Changed 'togther' to 'together' on page 48: "two furrows together". + +Left 'oak plant sixteen feet long' on page 52, although I suspect the +author meant 'plank'. + +Changed 'wifh' to 'with' on page 58: "with a knife". + +Changed 'occassion' to 'occasion' on page 63: "had no occasion". + +Changed 'caterpiller' to 'caterpillar' on page 66: "canker-worm, +tent-caterpillar, bud moth". + +Removed extra word 'of' on page 67: "amount of water". + +Changed 'staight' to 'straight' on page 69: "set them up straight". + +Changed 'paris' to 'Paris' on page 72: "London purple and Paris green". + +Changed comma to period on page 75: "planted two rods apart around +orchard." + +Changed 'Domine' to 'Dominie' on page 75: "Early Harvest and Dominie". + +Changed 'spliting' to 'splitting' on page 76: "keep from splitting". + +Changed 'caterpillas' to 'caterpillars' on page 81: "the [tent] +caterpillars". + +Changed comma to period on page 81: "Winesap and Rawle's Janet keep +best." + +Added comma on page 82: "Westmoreland, Pottawatomie county". + +Changed 'mixure' to 'mixture' on page 86: "with Bordeaux mixture". + +Changed 'empyting' to 'emptying' on page 89: "emptying into bushel +boxes". + +Removed extra period at end of sentence on page 93: "with London +purple." + +Changed 'fell' to 'fall' on page 94: "fall web-worm". + +Removed extra word 'the' on page 102: "all the way down". + +Removed extra word 'out' on page 104: "twenty out of twenty-four". + +Left the text "I plant potatoes or sweet corn in a bearing orchard" on +page 116, although it seems more likely that "non-bearing" was intended. + +Changed 'filed' to 'filled' on page 122: "filled with sweet water". + +Removed extra word 'a' between 'I' and 'plow' on page 124: "I plow +shallow". + +Changed 'stable-litter' to 'stable litter' on page 129: "with stable +litter". + +Changed 'north-east' to 'northeast' on page 129 for spelling +consistency: "a northeast slope". + +Removed repeated word 'for' on page 141: "wind does it for me". + +Changed period to semi-colon on page 143: "plant nothing;". + +Changed 'nor' to 'not' on page 143: "Do not spray". + +Changed 'caterpiller' to 'caterpillar' on page 144: "tent-caterpillar +and borers". + +Removed extra hyphen after 'in' on page 146: "in the orchard". + +Changed comma to period to end sentence on page 155: "in the order +named.". + +Changed 'Tomkins' to 'Tompkins' on page 155: "King of Tompkins County". + +Changed 'thing' to 'think' on page 164: "think it advisable". + +Changed 'culivator' to 'cultivator' on page 167: "plow and cultivator". + +Changed comma to period to end sentence on page 167: "they thin +themselves.". + +Changed 'windbreake' to 'windbreaks' on page 170: "windbreaks are +essential". + +Changed 'nothwest' to 'northwest' on page 170: "northwest aspect". + +Changed 'two-year old' to 'two-year-old' on page 171: "two-year-old +medium-sized trees". Also on page 174: "prefer two-year-old trees". + +Changed comma to period to end sentence on page 176: "repack stored +apples before marketing.". + +Inserted hyphen on page 179: "codling-moth". + +Changed 'yearss' to 'years' on page 184: "eighteen years". + +Removed extra word 'a' on page 187: "a couple of inches". + +Changed 'cornstalks' to 'corn-stalks' on page 188 to be consistent with +all other spellings: "the ever-present corn-stalks". + +Removed extra word 'of' on page 189: "part of the risk". + +Changed garbled text 'o beet nasily see' to 'to be easily seen' on page +196. + +Changed 'figures 3 and 5' to 'figures 3 _a_ and _b_' on page 204 to +match up with the figures. + +The caption for figure 4 on page 205 is missing the explanation for +figures c and d. + +Changed 'coccoon' to 'cocoon' on page 206: "spin a cocoon". + +Removed extra word 'a' between 'one' and 'at' on page 220: "one at time +into the jar". + +Changed 'Domine' to 'Dominie' on page 225: "Dominie, 39". + +Changed 'Burrto' to 'Burrton' on page 229: "Saltzman, A. J., Burrton". + +Kept both 'leaf-crumpler' and 'leaf-crumbler', though I suspect the +different writers meant the same insect. + +Kept inconsistent spelling of 'Axelton' and 'Axleton'; 'bagworm' and +'bag-worm'; 'Belleflower', 'Bell-flower' and 'Bellflower'; 'Christensen' +and 'Christenson'; 'Domony' and 'Domoney'; 'Gennetting', 'Genneting' and +'Gennettan'; "Grimes'" and "Grimes's"; 'jackknife' and 'jack-knife'; +'Lovett' and 'Lovette'; 'McCullogh' and 'McCullough'; 'Morganville' and +'Morgantown'; 'Nonsuch' and 'Nonesuch'; 'Pippin' and 'Pippen'; +'pollenizer' and 'pollinator'; 'round-headed' and 'roundheaded'; +'Sayles' and 'Sales'; 'soap-suds' and 'soapsuds'; 'Spitzenburg' and +'Spitzenberg'; 'Vandevere' and 'Vandervere'. + +For ASCII version, replaced Section Sign (U+00A7) with 'Sect.'; replaced +Multiplication Sign (U+00D7) with lowercase 'x'; replaced Latin Small +Letter AE (U+00E6) with 'ae'; and replaced Latin Small Letter E With +Acute (U+00E9) with 'e'. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Apple, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE APPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 31729.txt or 31729.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/2/31729/ + +Produced by Steven Giacomelli, Stephen H. 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