The Republican journal., 1903-06-04
APPLES AS A MONEY CROP.
Lecture by F. C. Richards Before the Mas.
sachusetts horticultural Society.

sachusetts Horticultural Society.
"rhe apple as money crop; its cul-
ture and preparation for MARKET" was
the subject of an interesting lecture de-
llvered before tt e Massachusetts horti-
cultural society by F. C. Richards of
Williamsburg at Horticultural hall,
Boston, recently.
Pres. o. B. Hadwen introduced Mr..
Richards, who said there were three es-
sentials to be considered in the success
full raising of apples-the soil, the CON-
mercial value and the individual prepa-
ration,
New England has not yet awakened
to the necessity of taking more interest
in agriculture. Capitalists are quick to
see the requirements of our markets,
and they will not be slow in providing
fruit corporations, which will not be to
the advantage of the individual grower.
We do not want fruit corporations, but
we do want farmers to plant 100 or sew
eral hundred trees, and this will be
factor in improving our rOckbound hill
sides. More attention to agriculture
will make happier and more prosperous
homes.
''In regard to orcharding, the first
question of the prospective apple grow
er is generally Have good location?'
Do not be troubled so much about the
locaton-that is not of the most para
mount Importance. Flee to the hill
sides if you want a productive orchard"
'The speaker then gave minute direc-
lions how to prepare the soil, and how
to select the trees The largest trees
are not always the best. Select the one
which looks the most thrifty; avoid the
trees which have not many branches.
The next consideration is the proper
mode of transplanting AS to distance,
fully 40 feet each way is the requisite dis
lance. SO that the tree will have sutfici-
ent room to spread and produce good
fruit fit for market. The tree, in trans
planting, should never be planted deep
er i'll the soil than whence it came.
"We have too many varieties, ''contln-
ned the speaker, Sin our orchards as a
rule, and we would advise that it is best
to plant only one or two varieties. The
baldwin stands prominently as an APP
pie which is the most profitable to cul-
Iivate. Apples come and go, but the
baldwin has been found perfect in all
the requirements of successful or
chard. There are larger apples, but
they have not the same qualities neces-
SGIS " SUCCESS DIS ll'o DotletN III. olIO
GOOD suggestion to the orchardist is to
feed the tree and the tree will feed you,
but do not fertiIiZe too heavily. The
spraying of trees is also very neces-
sary. and a well-kept tree is better able
to withstand the ravages of the insects
and ward off disease than one that is
poorly cared for A Well-fed tree is-al-
so more able to maintain a healthy
growth.
1T is matter of regret that so much
ignorance prevails among farmers re-
earding the necessity OF spraying.
Our New England will be reproach
and bv-word, and will continue to be
SO until we learn how to pack an hon
est barrel. We can, by careful breed
ing, attain high standard Of excellence,
but the fruit must afterward be proper
lv packed. The packers must eXer
else the greatest care in handling the
fruit, and apples taken from the ground
must not be mixed with those taken d.
rectlv from the branches. Old and I'M
clean barrels must not be used.
"Competition has been a mighty pow
er in the industrial conditions of the
country and the question is how are we
to meet this competition and apply 1t
to orciiarding?
ITO succeed in this industry, what we
want is men who will put into orchard
ing extension and intensity: men who
are fully equipped with the knowledge
that will broaden the work and raise it
to to- the highest standard. We do not
want book learning alone, but we need
men who are earnest, ambitious, men
of application, perseverance and in
tensity.
zone great hindrance to the success
of apple raising is that too many regard
orcharding as side issue. Too many
farmers in New England are not devel-
oping their farms and do not perse-
we're in the care of their orchards; they
seem to forget that eternal vigilance is
abe price of success.
In conclusion Mr.. Richards said:
with the right men in the right place,
New England could be made beautiful
and prosperous country, and we would
have no more barren hillsides.