Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-09-26
HOpTICI1 1IlR
The Michigan Fruit Station.

nG UtfCuI9dn ffufL SLaIfOh.
The Michigan experiment station is
located at Agricultural College, near
Lansing. 1t has a branch at South
Haven devoted entirely to experiments \
with fruit The cause for the exist
ence of this branch station are the
peculiar soil along the shores of Lake
Michigan and climatic conditions quite
unlike other parts of the state. More
over this region is famous fruit pro-
-ducing region, and experiments made
at Lansing would not be likely to ap-
ply fully to the so-called fruit-belt-
representative of the Farmers Re
view last week visited this fruit sta
ton and found it in a most flourish
ing condition. The officer in charge is
Professor T. A. Farrand, who seems to
understand the conditions of his ter
ritory most fully.
The station is somewhat limited for
space and has at present only if
teen acres of land, all of which is in
use. The first paintings were made
IA years ago. The paucity of area has
compelled the crowding of some of the
trees beyond what we believe to be
advisable. Professor Farrand has
been compelled for this reason to set
his plants and trees nearer together
than he would if he had the room he
needs. 1t was noticeable that all the
soil was in a high state of cultivation,
the marks of the weeder teeth being
everywhere visible between the trees.
All the fruit trees are headed low.
The Professor says this is the only
sensible way of heading trees. The
apple, pear, plum and cherry trees
branched just above the soil and one
would have diff Guilty in reaching their
trunks, because of the branches. We
did not notice high-headed tree ON
the place.
Professor Farrand says that peach
and pear trees should be set at least
20 feet apart, though on their ground
they are but 16 feet apart. AS most
of these trees are twelve years old
their branches are already too close
in many instances. The apple and
pear trees are sprayed with Bordeaux
mixture on the formula $3.50, with
four ounces of Paris green added.
This is five pounds of lime, five
pounds of copper sulphate and so gal
Ions of water, besides the Paris green
mentioned. For peaches they spray
| before the leaves are open for the
curl leaf, using two pounds of su1phate
fruit is set they spray with half
| strength Bordeaux mixture, or on the
| formula $500, using no Paris green.
However, Paris green could be used.
If desired. Peaches are thinned to
6 and inches apart. This is more
severe thinning than is followed in
many of our orchards, where the
breadth of the hand Is used as the
| rIr1Q for snare hofwoop noanhoo
The Professor recommends the
Longhurst peach as a very good one.
The tree is hardy and very productive,
but is not as handsome as the AL
berta- 1t is most excellent for can
ming. However the growers of
peaches near South Haven are going
! largely into Albertas. Kalamazoos and
Engle Mammoths are most excellent
| varieties and are doing well on the
| station grounds. 1t is noted that the
early peaches are inferior in quality.
| It Is the belief of the director that
| apple trees should be set not less than
25 feet apart. As to the varieties do
Ing the best on their grounds he men,
| tions Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Stark
and Yellow Transparent Ben Davis
| does not do well here, as it can not
be grown to perfection. Apples OF
this variety do not color up so well
in this part of Michigan as they dc
in southern Illinois and localities on
the same parallel. Duchess of Olden
| berg is doing well. Wagner is doing
| we'll, and nothing is better than
Wealthy. The Greening is hardy but
it is late in coming into bearing. Col
| den russets bear better than Roxbury
russets, but the day of both of them
| has gone by, says the director. Te
tovka, a Russian, bears heavily, bu
is a poor grower.
Among the pears Seckel was doing
remarkably well. The trees were
heavy with fruit and the size wa-
very much better than is usual with
this variety. In fact. one seeing then
on the market would hardly believe
them to be Seckels- So much fol
good care and culture The Bartletts
are proving the best on the ground
The Keiffer has come to stay. Ouch
ess is a good late pear. Flemish
Beauty is regarded of little or nc
value Cor general cultivation, as il
scabs paddy, and the ordinary grower
will not spray it. When thorough,
sprayed it is all right, as it is I
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