The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-01-23

ing out, but by the middle OF the
summer / was badly frightened in
the discovery that our clover was at
least one-third alfalfa. / had read
time and time again that alfalfa must
not be allowed in an orchard, but
also remembered that l had read a
great many statements of a theoreti-
cal nature that had disproved in
actual practice, and being of some.
what investigative natureI conclud-
ed to let that alfalfa alone and watch
results.
That was six years ago and the
alfalfa is still there. 1t has never
been disturbed by pillow of cultivator
since it was seeded, and it never will
be SO long as the orchard keeps up
its record of the last four years. 1t
is generally said that the Spitzenbere
is shy bearer. That is not true in
our orchard. We have 800 Spitz
trees, now II years old, that CON-
menced to bear the third year plant
ed and have given regularly increas-
ing crops each year since until the
past season, when they packed over
5000 boxes of fancy export apples.
One word more about the alfalfa
we do not remove it from the
ground. Each spring we cut all
stubble and allow all growth to decay
on the ground. 1t furnishes a mulch
which I believe not only keeps the
soil under it in fine, loose condi-
ton, but also furnishes through de.
cay of this vegetable matter a regu-
lar supply of potash and other plant
foods to the surface feeding roots
of our trees. This and the we'll.
known ability of alfalfa to gather
and store free nitrogen are the only
reasons I can see for the productive
ness of this little orchard.
In pruning we have followed what
is called the vase form. The trees
were two years old when set out, AMI
had been cut back to fifteen inches as
yearlings, while they stood in the
nursery row. After planting we cut
off all branches except three, select
ing these with "a view to balanced
head and as far apart as possible to
avoid forks. We then cut these three
branches back to eight or ten inches
in length. The second and third
winter we pruned on the same plan,
allowing each limb to increase by
three. This formed the head, and
since that time our pruning has con-
sited principally in removing water
sprouts, broken and cross growing
branches. However, we have courage
to remove any limb that we believe
will help the tree, always painting
all cuts of one-half inch or more
with a good lead paint.
Now, will give you "a statement
of results obtained from this orchard.
and then tell you how we handle
the Goblin moth.
This orchard was planted in De.
cember, 1895. Trees were two years
from bud. We have sold as follows
of merchantable apples:
In 1898. 60 boxes for $54.
In 1899. 200 boxes for $214.
In 1900, 1926 boxes for 1925.
In 1901, COS boxes for $605.
In 1902, HOS boxes for 5000.
In 1908, 400 boxes for $1400.
In 1904. 1850 boxes for $2400.
In 1905, 1850 boxes for $2768.
In 1906, 1925 boxes for $5991.40.
A total of 1929 boxes for $14,-
777.4O.
We also received during this time
from the sale of off-grade apples.
$1141.55, and from the sale of vine
gar $500, making a total gross sales
of $16,218.95.
Our expenses previous to 1906
were $221S. During 1906 they were
$1913.15, making a total of $4126.-
Is. and leaving net returns to date
of s12,092.SO.
The sales for the years 1903 and
1904 included the furnishing of all
material and the packing Of the ap-
pies by the buyer. For all the other
years we paid all expenses.
The expenses for 1906 are In de-
tail as follows:
Labor, including irrigating, spray
ing, pruning. scraping tree trunks
and cleaning bands, $S2.50; paris
green, $64.S0; lime, $50; picking.
s275.6O hauling. $321.35; grading,
$1S9.75 box shocks and nails. $685.
25; paper. 5000; total. $1913.15.
The receipts for 1906 from mer
charitable apples were $5991.40, and
from off-grade apples, $275.55; to-
tai, $6266.95.
Less expenses of $1913.15. gives