Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-05-16


year and the price was forty cents for
second and sixty cents for number one
apples, which makes more than the
above figures. Sometimes, however
the price is less than forty cents per
bushel. so I figure as near as ] could to
what I think is an average price, and
we have the above results.
And there Is always a demand for
good apples from earliest to latest. But
we will consider the winter apples
that is such as Ben Davis and Wine
Saps; these may be raised in connec-
ton with general farming cOnflictions
with that pursuit less than any other
branch of horticulture. These can be
raised in large quantities and gathered
by wholesale and sent to any market in
this country or Europe that promises
best returns.
It has been told to orchard planters
for the last one hundred years, and
perhaps longer, that they would have
no market for their apples; that fruit
growing was being greatly overdone,
and many similar statements. These
crokers can not fully realize the vast
extent of our country, and the further
all important facts that but a small
portion of its area. comparatively speak
ing, can successfully produce in large
quantities and of fine quality the most
valuable fruits for commercial purposes.
Others have not planted, because they
Say they can not afford to invest money
and labor so long before they get re-
turns, forgetting that the Increase in
value of land devoted to well selected
and well cared for orchard is greater
than the increase of money at COM
pound interest.
The apple sometimes fail, but should
occasiC nal failure discourage the man
who contemplates planting a small or
chard for family use, or he who con-
templates planting a commercial or
chard? Certainly not. No crop is al
ways sure to yield, and the failure Of
an apple crop is not so disastrous to
the orchardists as the failure of agri-
culture crops 30 the farmer, because the
fruit grower bestows very little labor
on his orchard In the season of failure
New York and Michigan have led in
the production of apples for several
years, but Missouri is coming to the
front N this line very rapidly.
There is no crop that will pay the
Kentucky farmer better than a crop Of
apples. An orchard costs from 500 to
$35 FER acre; this includes cost of trees
planting and care, but not cost of land;
that is until trees come to bearing.
Spraying for fungi or codling moth is
very Important spray with Bordeaux
mixture for fungus growth before the
leaves appear, and for codling moth af-
ter the blossom fall; when apples are
as large as peas spray with Paris green.
In the year 1898 Prof. w. B. Atwood
Of the Virginia Experiment Station said
a great good had been accomplished by
the use of insecticides and fungicides,
in spraying a thirty-acTe orchard Of
Wine Saps that had not borne a profit
able crop for ten years. This season
he induced the owner to spray and let
him oversee the work; the result was a
good crop of choice fruit with few blem-
ishes and another orchard in this
State the owner was offered $4,000 for
Unsprayed orchards in the vicinity Of
both those mentioned produce but little
fruit and that Of inferior quality.
The American Agriculturist puts the
apple crop Of 1900 down at 1880. 600
barrels and the crop Of 1901 at 23,O75,-
900 barrels.
No reliable estimates are available as
to the total value of the apple crop Of
this county. We may get an indication
of its value however from export prices
The export value according to figures
given by the Bureau of Statistics of the
Treasury Department for the eight
months from June 30, 1901, to February
%, 1902, are $3.50 per barrel, making
S115, 375 ,000 which think, considering
the inland price, are very low figures.
Mr. McGrew was asked to give
statement of his own orchard last year.
In answer he said he has eleven acres
of land in Ben Davis, Wine Sap and
Rome Beauty They rate as named.
Has some Of the other varieties, but
they failed. Sold last year ,063 bar
rels. His neighbOrs were taking great
interest in apple growing His eleven
acres pay him more net money than
the EFT Of his $50 acre farm.
Mr. Foard said here they can't re-
set an old orchard with apples and Mr.
McGrew said he did it, but not the same
year when tree dies. Lets it lie awhile
and then puts in the hole lye OF lime
or some kind Of potash if tree is set in
same place of old one Asked what
caused trees to turn black about the
trunk and die, he said he thought it
due to heading too high and letting the
sun in. He remedies by heading low.
Mr. Foard said he had had trees to
die when the lower limbs hung to the
ground. Trees from five to twenty
years old had been affected alike.
Mr. Adams suggested that pears are
also q paying crop.
Mr.. McGrew thought cheapest way
to propagate apple trees was by root
graft Cultivate in row in garden one
or two years and then transplant to
orchard. The CRAFTS should be what is
known as whole root" gratis.
He had passed an orchard as he came
here The trees were on ridge a foot
or two high. 1t is better that they be
in a depression than on a ridge. He
thought best to cultivate orchard, espe-
cially before 1t begins bearing, but not
too close to the trees and he did not
think it best to heap manure around
them as it makes a harbor for mice
and they kill the tree
On same subject Mr.. ]. w. Foard re-
sponded Has an orchard and garden,