The Mena weekly star., 1911-08-10
Will Orcharding Pay in Polk
 County?

chards or farms to plant in or
 chard. So widespread has this
 movement become that the question
 become an important one. In a
 general way the answer depends on
 the following conditions: (The
 bank account; (2) the experience:
 3) the industry and (l) the ability
 to secure proper help.
 There is nothing better than the
 orchard business for those who un-
 derstand it. But for the ordinary inexperienced man to attempt to
 personally plant and grow a com
 mercial orchard without expert
 help is almost hopeless. I do not
 know of any commercial orchard,
 given proper care, that does not
 bring handsome returns, and many
 from which returns have been phe-
 nomenal.
 In planting commercial orchard
 the first thing is to plant the proper
 varities, then the location and soil.
 A commercial orchard should have
 from two to four varieties, accord
 ing to the size of the orchard, and
 of varieties best adapted to climate.
 etc, and which will ripen about
 October. We must also consider
 the shipping qualities, the color and
 size. The planting should be done by experienced help, and remember
 all trees are not planted alike. The dwarf and budded stock should be planted deeper than the standard or grafted stock. and all trees should
 have the proper pruning, both top and root, at time of planting. Also examine and see that they are free from disease or insects. Very often fungus disease and insects are there, and they would never be de- teeted by an inexperienced man, but which, if destroyed at planting time, would save future trouble and loss.
 Also spraying is absolutely neces- sary if you expect to market fruit. General three sprayings, done at the right time and using the proper spray. The same formula cannot be used for each time. In planting an orchard I would prefer the triangular method. You can plant more trees, also cultivate them better. l would prefer fall planting, as the trees will make root growth enough to hold them firmly for spring growth, and will give them much better start for the seasons growth.
 We have here an almost perfect orchard country that only awaits development. The climate is better than most orchard countries, the soil is as good as can he found, drainage good, and color can be made good by proper pruning, and so far as shipping rates are con- eerned, what we want is enough to ship. Our freight and express rates are cheaper here than in the west ern orchard country, where inn proved orchard land, not planted, is two hundred dollars and more, and bearing commercial orchards are worth from eight to fifteen hundred dollars per acre. Why can't we do as we'll here?
 They are more liable to insects, especially scale insects. They also have frost and freezing weather to contend with during both spring and fall, while here we would have, perhaps. some spring frosts. Look ing over some orchards here, think the principal insects we would have to fight would be the coddling moth, borers and woody aphis. The cod ding moth causes the wormy ap- pies, and can be prevented by prop CT spraying. Spraying will also de- stroy all stinging insects. The borer is destroyed or prevented by washing the trunk, large limbs and roots. The woody aphis can be de- stroyed at the time of planting. There are two forms of woody aphis, one attacking the roots and one the trunks. The root aphis will be de- tected by knot-like places found on the ro0tlets, which should be cut away and be destroyed. The trunks and limbs should be washed several times during the summer with ker- osene emulsion. Formula: Soft soap one quart; water two quarts; kerosene oil, one pint. Dilute with equal parts of water and tobacco stems and dust should be dug in around the roots to check and de- stroy the coddling moth. Remove all fallen and decayed apples from under the trees, and many orchard ists place bands of straw around the trunks for the caterpillars to spin their cocoons under. Spray in the spring, just after the blossoms have fallen, using one pound of paris green to two hundred gallons of water.
 The apple tree borer spends the summer and autumn feeding upon the sap wood, and as winter ap- breaches burrows in the ground and remains until spring. The pres- enee of the borer can be detected from the bark turning black and cracking. Wherever this condition is found the insect should be cut out and destroyed before they leave the trees, and preventative meas ures should be used by thoroughly scrubbin the trunks and large limbs with carbolic acid soap wash. Formula: One pound soap, one pound crude carboIic acid and two gallons of water. This is also n