The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-14
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AGRICULTURISTS
Some Up-to-Date Hints About Gull
tivation of the Soil and Yields
Thereof yitIculture and
Horticulture.

CONDENSED from Farmers Review Steno-
graphic Report of Illinois State Horti-
cultural Conventiono
desire to make statement here
which I would be glad to hear dis
sussed. It is based on several years
careful observation on my own part
and on Information from growers and
apple dealers. The Illinois Ben Davis
apple intended for Cold Storage should
be in the storage house not later than
Oct. 18th. A week earlier is fire.
auently better.
grant that weather conditions or
dense foliage or peculiaritles in soil
may create exceptions to this rule, but
believe the grower who pursues this
course for a period Of years will OBJ
tain the best results.
Before picking is commenced all
dropped apples under the trees should
be taken of the ground. Never place
q dropped apple in a barrel for Cold
Storage. 1t is bruised even II you
cannot see 1t.
The size Of the fruit to be picked
should not be less than 21s inches In
diameter. Smaller apples and any that
may be imperfect should be left on
the tree and shaken down later for the
evaporator or cider press. 1t is best
not to burden the picked fruit with a
lot of imperfect apples which must be
rejected by the packers.
Each individual apple Should be
= handled carefully and the baskets
|should be carefully emptied. Too
much Importance cannot be given to
this part OF the work and young men
should be made to realize its impor-
tance to you.
If the picking and packing can be
carried on at the same time it is high
ly desirable. II, for any reason, this
cannot be done have the apples taken
to the packing-house as fast as picked.
Get them under cover. 1t is unQues-
tionably the very worst practice to
pile them on the ground in the orch
ard. They may gain little color
but they are frequently subjected to
hot sun during the day and to cold
nights Sometimes it rains and time
must be allowed them to dry before
packing in the barrel. And sometimes
it SHOWS. 1t did this year. At least
1t showed in Champaign and Savoy.
With the packers should be care
full inspector. Get cold storage man
If you can find one.
Double face the barrels. but do not
face them too strong" Let. the face
be an indication of what is underneath
both as to size, color and general
character. Shake them down as the
baskets are emptied into the barrel.
Fill the barrel two inches above the
top and press down carefully with a
screw or lever press. Do not put more
than four nails in each chine hoop.
Cold storage men, commission mer-
chants and all dealers In apples would
have better dispositions If less nails
were used in apple barrels.
Stencil the name OF the variety on
the face end and lay the barrel on its
side Ship them to the nearest good
cold storage plant as soon as you have
carload. If possible do not let the
interval DetWeeu plChlu6 duO oAAP
ping exceed five days.
l have taken Ben Davis from the
storage rooms in May with the bloom
still on them-as fresh and firm as
when picked. They were packed by a
grower who understood his business.
I do not know that 1t would be out Of
the way to state that they were packed
ia