The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-05-05
ESSAY ON APPLE CULTURE.

have been much interested in Farmers Bul
letin No. 11S on apple growing, a copy of which
is on the table and which may be had for tn
asking. It isdevoted more particularlyfto tn
family orchard with advice to market the sur
plus, but should advise planting for marke
and then there would also be PLENTY fol
home use.
| do not think there is any more profit ii
planting numerous varieties of apples than IL
planting numerous varieties of potatoes. a
few select sorts for early, medium or late. moi
over three varieties of each. MY new orchard
has two kinds, both late-Y York Imperial and
Stormers Winesap
Prof. Wilder is authority for the statement
that for a commercial orchard for southern
| Pennsylvania or northern Maryland, -four
| varieties Grimes Golden, York Imperial
Stormers Winesap. and l believe, Jonathan
and these would be hard to improve on OF
! earlier apples in the list published in this
bulletin for the Middle States, would recon-
mend Yellow Transparent Benoni, Craven.
stein, Wealthy Mammoth Black Twig in ad,
dition to those named.
| l--set out my orchard by using the corn
planter chain as guide. This served double
| purpose, it keeping the trees in form, and also
left them the proper distance for the corn
planter between trees. This one way they
were planted every eleventh ball, being about
40 #. and nine balls the other way or SO #.
To obtain the best returns most orchardists
are now using filters. that is filling the inter
vening middles with quick growing fapple
like the Transparent, Early Ripe or Wealthy,
and when these begin to crowd take them out.
Others plant filters and all of the same kind.
l sawpne young orchard of Duchess apples
planted in this way in Niagara county, N. Y,
that produced $238 per acre at nine years old.
| also saw another orchard of Duchess apples
sold at $2.75 per bushel in the orchard (this
was two years ago. and the buyer volunteered
the statement: Il do not see an apple that I
shall reject they were SO absolutely perfect
and about bbls. per tree
To plant orchards means work and waiting
but there isno reason a success should not be
made of it. With home market for tomatoes
and sweet corn, there is plenty of inducement
for good cultivation and profit while we
wait. Besides to make success there should
be enough orchards to attract buyers to a
neighborhood and competition would be the
spice of life.
In the comments which followed
the reading of the essay, Mr.. Rawl.
ings said that it seemed the old
hay and wheat crops method was
getting out of date and it was up
to the farmer of this section to take
up something with more promise
of profit.
Mr.. Steel said that among the
apple varieties mentioned was the
Jonathan and while the quality Of
this apple was excellent the yield
was always meagre.
Mr.. Polk said the varieties
mentioned by the host were those
recommended by apple authorities
and coincided with Mr.. Steel that
the Jonathan apple was a meagre
producer but of most excellent
quality.
Mr.. Maxwell asked what was
best fertilizer for orchard and Mr..
Polk said one large orchardist
bought 1000 pullets yearly and
turned them loose under the trees
to scratch for grubs and fertilize
the grouud. He also stated that
regular fertilizer formulas for
lsorchards had been prepared and
could be procured.
Mr.. Reeder produced sample
Newtown Pippin of his own raising.
1t was in perfect condition and
when passed around and sampled
was pronounced of excellent flavor.
He said home or nearby originated
varieties should be planted and
that the red varieties were the best
sellers, regardless of flavor, al
though among the yellow varieties
Grimes Golden had made market
for ITSELF.
In speaking of the trend towards
apple culture, it was stated that a
few years ago w. T. N,Warburton
sold off his fine dairy herd and now
had a large acreagei in apples.
Mr.. Mendenhall advised the
farmer not to overdo it, but start
in a small way and gradually in.
creas fit proved success.
The farmers of section were
advised to all plant the same
varieties in order to insure large
enough yields to attract carload lot
buyers.
Mr.. William Silver, of Aberdeen,
member of the Deer Creek
Farmers Club, gave a very in.
| teresting talk on annie cultnra also
on the order Of business as conduct
ed by his Club.
Mr. Reynolds said he wanted to
+! put rock, potash and nitrate of
soda on grass and asked what pro-
portions he should use.
Mr.. Biles said one half rock and
one half nitrate, 20 lbs. of each
per acre.