The Green Forest tribune., 1902-11-22
FUTURE OF FAPPLERAISING
Subject Ably" Discussed Before
 Missouri Farmers Institute.

Missouri Farmers Institute.
 The following extracts from an address of Prof. J. c. Whitten before the late meeting of the Missouri Farmers Institute on the subject of the future outlook for apple growing contains some interesting general information besides we are sure there are some suggestions contained therein that can be made of special value to TRIBUNE readers:
 He asked the audience to compare the price of apples with the prices of other products with manufactured articles. The price of first-class apples was never higher, whereas the prices of other articles are much lower than in the past. Cold storage and improved shipping facilities has heightened the apple season and enabled us to distribute the crop over a wide territory.
 The possibilities of building up market across the Atlantic, he said, are almost limitless. He had studied the markets of Europe as to apples and knows an immense trade can be secured by making the effort. The peo- pie of Europe do not know what commercial orcharding is. There are no orchards there. He had himself seen 75 cents paid for single apple. Ordi- nary apples are not much higher than here. Only the choicest apples should be sent there. For such apples an immense trade could be secured, and at prices that would prove satisfac- tory to the growers.
 The German farmer prunes in winter. He counts every fruit bud on the tree. When he gath CTS his apples each are wrapped and put in storage. He is sev- eral weeks gathering the apples, visiting his few trees day by day and picking such apples as are ready, not making one job of the work, as is done here.
 He spoke of the market for fancy apples in our own cities. It is increasing steadily-this demand for the perfect fruit. There is an opportunity here to expand the business of producing and selling fancy fruit. It makes a great difference as to how the fruit is put before the purchas- CTS, and the necessity of being particular in this respect will in- crease with the years. He be- lieves the future of apple grow ing was never brighter-that the prices for first grade apples ten years hence will be better than now. Where the most apples are grown there prices will be best.
 He urged thorough cultivation of the orchard. Prevention is better than cure; therefore, pre- vent the orchard from getting in bad condition. It is a tough proposition to clean up a neg feet orchard. The only way to carry an orchard through a drought is to keep a fine dust mulch on top of the soil. The disc harrow is the best imple- ment, where it can be used Fine the soil to the depth of two or three inches. The humus ol the soil, however, should not be burned up. Cultivate till June. then SOW COW peas, which should be pastured to hogs or plowed under. The amount of mois- ture that soil rich in humus will contain is three times it's own weight. Burned-out soil will hold only half it's own weight of water Crimson clover is excellent for an orchard Where it will do well 1t is just as good as any other legume, It is great nitrogen gatherer may be sown in August. It suc- eeeds at Columbia. It does not winter kill.
 The suggestion of Prof. Whit ten that more attention should