Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-04-22
Ought TO Interest Every Farmer In
Caring For His Orchard.
WHAT TO Do AND WHEN
Michigan Agricultural College Issues a Valu
able Bulletin on Apple Culture.

PEELED to pay such high prices for
apples as have prevailed during the
past winter. When apples sell for
more than oranges in Michigan mar.
kets. it ought to be time for Michigan
farmers to become inspired with the
thought of caring for their orchards.
The Michigan State Agriculture
college has recently issued bulletin
No. 253, dealing with the subject OF
apple culture, from which The
Record is pleased to publish the fol-
lowing Practical suggestions:
Forward
Upon many Michigan farms are
mature ample orchards that have been
neglected for many years and have
produced no income further than an
occasional small crop of apples of un-
certain quality.
With a little investment and little
work at the proper time many of these
orchards. If located upon congenial
soil and not too old, can be made to
return cash income that will be an
i'm portant item in the form economy.
An account, in detail. of the methods
used and results secured with such or
chards, handled in connection with
general farming, is herein..given bv Mr..
is. b. Hartman, of Athens, Calhon
comfy. His results should stimulate
farmers TO make an effort TO turn
similar orchards into source OF
profit and fruit supply for home use.
The Orchards.
The first orchard consists of 30 trees,
most of which are about 30 years old.
This orchard has been in sod ard used
as hog pasture for at least 15- years,
and previous to 5 years ago had never
had good pruning. The varities and
number of trees of each VARIETY ale
as follows: IL Stark, 3 Maiden Blush,
Winter Rambo. Ben Davis. 2 Steele
Red. ? Golden Russell. Rhode Islanu
Greening, l Winter Pippin. l Fameuse.
Yellow Transpa rent.
The second orchard consisting of IA
trees is remnant of the old orchard
on another part of the farm. the
verage age being about 40 years.
These trees are scattered and the
ground has been used in regular
rotation of farm crops Varities are
as follows: Northern Spy, Jona-
tan, Ben Davis. Russell, j Bald
winh, l Pipin.
The third orchard consisting of
| trees is remnant of an old orchard
on the home farm. Two of the trees
are younger. but most OF them are 80
to 80 years of age. The orchard has
been in regular rotation of crops,
but is now included In young
orchard. Varities are as follows:
Northern Spy. King, Belltlower,
/ Tolman Sweet. Red Astrachsn.
In all there are SO trees. which il
collected and placed 36 feet apart
would cover 1t acres at 33 trees to the
acre.
Work And Results for the First
Year, 1904.
Nothing was done to the orchard
this season except to pick the fruit.
which for some years previous had
been allowed to 20 to waste. Apples
were abundant this year and prices
very low. The writer had taught
school the previous year and had the
farm work tn do during the summer.
but found time during the fall to
pick the apples rather than see them
go to waste. The only money expend-
ed in harvesting was :: for help in
picking. NO provision had been made
for shipping. 80 most of the fruit was
sold to local buyers at 40 cents per
hudered weight. or about 20 cents per
bushel We drove four miles to the
orchard in the morning. put the
apples into the crates from the pick
ing sacks. and drove home with the
load in the eveniug. unloading at
thC bnC ncAt III dDOuI
carload of apples were sold for
1926. 81 Money. costs. including ship
ping boxes purchased later and pack
ing. were SO. "a. leaving net balance
of Si07. Oh to pay for 10 DAYS labor of
myself and team. or about So per day.
Fiftv-three BUSHES OF the hest of
this fruit were sorted out. packed in
hushel apple boxes and consigned to a
Chicago firm. These sold for 50 cents
per box. This set me to thinking that
If this fruit could be cared for that
larger per cent would be perfect. the
increased receipts would more than
offset the added expense. Accord
inglv. we prepared to give the orchard
some care the following season.
Work And Results Second Year. 1905.
A good brass pump with two leads
of 20-foot hose. 8 and iO-foot bamboo
brass-lined extension rods two double
vermorel nozzles. and q good brass