Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-08-16
Apple Culture.

not seem worthy OF eSpeCA@l ~
alteration, We are inclined to think
that apples grow so plentifuily ana
easily that they do not need very
much attention. But there are
apples and apples. There are mil
lions of very poor apples put on the
market every year. They are poor
for several reasons. The variety IS
not.good, the soil was not prepared,
the culture was lacking, and insects
have put In their work. Diseases
of various kinds have injured the
flesh, the flavor and the looks OF
these apples. Some one set the tree
or it came up by accident and con-
tinues to cumber the ground.
The truth is that a 1rst-class apple
is scarce and quite expensive. This
should not be 50. Apples keep
we'll and can be shipped with safety
over long distances. 1t costs the
same to get a barrel to hold poor
fruit as to hold good fruit. The
freight is the same. the time re-
quired to handle them is the same,
and a poor tree takes as much room
in the orchard and draws as much
nourishment from the soil as q choice
tree.
When we plant an apple orchard,
we should select the choicest apples
that will grow in our section. If we
do not know, we should consult a
reliable nurseryman. In almost
every part Of the country there are
good apples that are especially
suited to that section. These local
varieties are often superior in flavor
and flesh to any of the highest
brands. To illustrate this point, We
call attention to the fact that while
Georgia is not considered Al apple
growing State. there are several
varieties, developed locally from &C.
cidental seedlings now growing in
Georgia, that are not surpassed in
favor of flesh or keeping quality
by any apple that comes into the
Atlanta market.
Several of the choicest apples that
do we'll up North will not pay to
plant down South. A fine Northern
fall apple becomes a poor summer
apple down South, and a good winter
variety becomes a failure by ripen-
ing in the fall. The difference in
the length Of the seasons is an i'm.
portant factor.
Having selected your trees and
your soil, you will greatly improve
your chances for success by using
dynamite to blow the holes for set,
ting, instead of digging in the usua.
way. It is cheaper and better. Use
two and a half feet of fuse and -four
ounce cartridges, and you will have
deep and five feet across. Put IL
your trees and fill in with nice ricl
earth, and the tree will grow of
more rapidly and live longer AM
bear more and finer fruit.
AS potash greatly helps the tree
to be healthy, and improves tn,
favor and color OF the fruit, it SHOULD
be used freely around the roots o
the trees. In cultivation be careful
that the single-trees do not strik
the trees and skin them. Plant tn
orchard in peas or cotton or clover
and use potash and phosphate freel
upon these crops. Plow deep Will
the trees are small, and shallow afte
they have grown large. Avoid break
ing the roots as much as possible
AS the roots will run through a
the ground between the rows search
ing for food and water, 1t will I
profitable to see that they do n,
strike poor soil. Use such manu-
and fertilizers as will feed the
freely. Peas and clover will furnis
the nitrogen, and If you will supp
the phosphate and potash. you wi
have full crops OF we'll grown ar
highly favored and beautifully &C
ored fruit.
Spray freely. beginning befo.
they bloom and repeating until Il
fruit begins to color for ripenin
For the fungus diseases use the co
per mixtures, and for insects u
kerosene and paris green.
A little space and time and intel
gence will enable every family
have apples almost the year roun
Apples r cheaper than doctor
bills and more profitable tn
peaches. Plant them in the yart
plant them along the roads, pIa
r them bstween the pecans.-J.
: Hunnicutt, in Southern FIR,
Grower.
49, l.Ys