Charlevoix county herald., 1910-03-12
Well Attended
Fruit Growers Meet at Charlie
vOix Full of Interest.

called 10 OrOer DY tne PRESIDENT w. T..
Squier at l:45 p. M. with about 10
fruit growers present.
The topic for this meeting was
Spraying and Trimming but those
present did not contine themselves to
this subject very closely and many
other points were discussed.
7 he County Normal class was pres
ent and all busy taking notes and
the points brought out at this meeting
will find their way to the school room
later through these young people.
Mr.. w. NJ. Straw says that he is al
ways careful to trim off all bruised
roots aud that he cuts roots on beyel
so the first side OF the root will lay
on the ground. He likes the low top
trees on account Of less danger or dam
age by wind and also on account of
convenience OF trimming, spraying
and picking.
Mr.. Anderson says that he always
trims his young trees TO two or three
branches and leaves these not more
than three inches long, He likes a
medium heighth tree and would start
the top from five to seven feet from
the ground,
Mr.. WitherS says that he trims so
as 10 avoid crotches in trees.
The different points brought out by
those gentlemen in regard 10 the form
ing of Lcps TO young trees prove that
with great care Il top may be started
anv length from the ground and that
with care symmetrical top may be
formed on any young tree.
Cut off one side of a young tree and
the other may be trained and per-
pendicuar position and new and
we'll shaped top may be formed
Grafting was discussed to some ex-
tent but the most important thing
that was brought out was the fact that
an otherwise useless tree can be made
valuable in this way.
Mr.. Wilkinson believes in thorough
pruning and says that he keeps at il
every year and thus avoids the neces-
sity Of cutting large branches though
he will cut one when necessary.
A great deal of the pruning can
be done simply rubbing off buds when
they are starting.
He says that young orchard should
be carefully cultivated aud that farm
ers should avoid straw crops as they
always sap the trees and prevent a
good growth.
| may here again mention the fact
that early cultivation is essential in
wood Growth in condition for winter
and avoid winter killing.
Discussion shifted from the tree or
producing factory to tue finished pro-
duct.
Captain Flanagan who sailed the
Lakes for years and who is now en-
ployed by Chicago parties in TAX
ing care of some farms near Ironton
where they have purchased and pro-
pose setting big fruit farm says that
when he was sailing he always loaded
at Old Mission and some other points
down the lake because he could get
his load quickly in these places giving
another proof that the matter of a
market for fruit is generally solved
when community will produce suf-
ticient amount TO entice shippers to
the locality.
lie says that Chicago parties pro-
pose to spend 100000 in preparing
their farms for fruit.
Mr.. Mech mentioned some things
regarding the color of fruit and says
that the matter Of low heading of
trees will endanger the proper color
OF the fruit.
One very important point that was
made regarding the selection of
yaliet es was that when producing a
commercial product we must select
the variety that the market demands.
We personally know from experience
that certain apple is an excellent
keeper and that it has an excellent
flavor, but in nine cases out Of ten
it is the looks of an apple that will
attract the buyer.
Mr. See who has been ia this business
in Charlevoix spoke of this and men,
toned several varieties that always
are in demand among which were the
Snow, Duchess. Wolf River. Baldwin
and 20 ounce Pippiu. Says there are
other varieties that he personally likes
better than some of these but on ac-
count of their color and size or for
some other reason, generally pertain
ing to the looks OF the article, they
are not in demand.
Farmers who contemplate setting