The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-08-16
APPLE CULTURE.

any grown elsewhere in the United
States. The first question to arise is
| the reason. There are many, but
the soil might be considered as the
chief reason. The United States
/ Agricultural Department of Wash
| ington, D. c., has issued a statement
that Wayne county, Pennsylvania, is
especially adapted to the growing of
| apples of superior quality of ANY
OTHER SECTION IN THE UNITED
! STATES.
The above statement is evidence
enough to convince the progressive
and enterprising farmer that Wayne
county is the paradise for apples, not
only in quality of the fruit, but also
in the health of the tree. d. w.
Hull, of Waymart, says he has a
number of testimonials from apple
growers and horticulturists outside
the county, proving that Wayne
county has a remarkable heritage in
apple culture, if it will only be ac-
cepted. Is Wayne county going to
sell her heritage for a mess of pot
| tage? Decidedly no!
How then is she going about to
develop the acres of diamonds that
are now hidden beneath the surface
/ VI w dy SOuuI9 6Oll1
Plant young trees.
A large amount of trimming
should be commenced from the start
Do not allow the limbs to grow
where they ought not to grow. Have
few main limbs. Three or four to
start. By proper planting, cultiva-
tion, fertilization, pruning and
spraying the grower will be able to
| o. thor Inn h1o frIit from thraa -
five years. Tiny shutes when start
ing can be pruned with the thumb
nail. If removed in this manner no
scars are left and very much after
work is saved. By keeping the trees
properly trimmed and open, sunlight
will be able to reach all parts of the
tree and the ground. This has a
tendency to harden the bark upon
the butt of the tree. 1t then becomes
difficult for the parent beetle to get
its eggs in the bark outside. Then
the night beetles see these eggs and
destroys them before they are hatch
ed. Keep the surroundings clean so
if any borer's eggs do hatch they
can be readily identified by a tiny
drop of brown fluid. A slight pres
sure of the thumb kills them and af-
terwards saves vast amount of
work. 1t is necessary to cultivate in
the first part of the season. Barn
yard manure is the best Work it
in the ground. Cultivation is to
continue until the middle of the sum-
mer, the time varying with the diff
ferent kinds of fruit; allowing the
fruit to mature, the leaves to finish
their work of rippening the fruit and
also rfppening the terminal bud of
the coming season. Nothing should
be allowed to grow at any time
within foot or more from the tree.
Destroy mice and rabbits before
winter. The mice work under the
snow while the rabbit, when it can
get no other kind of food, resorts to
the bark of the trees.
The best fruit is raised upon the
hills. The Northern Spy does better
on higher situations and exposed to
winds, while if grown in the valley
it is almost failure and hardly
worth the gathering. The Rhode
Island Greetings above all other va
rieties, need rich land. The Baldwin
does the best for all situations.
Whoever goes into apple or other
fruit raising must study the best
periodicals and books upon the sub
ject. Practice among the trees is
best of all. He must do his work
properly and never neglect it. II
for reason he should neglect it three
or four days it might ruin the entire
crop.
Timber lands, or lands on which
forests have formerly grown, if hav-
ing the proper exposure and drain
age, are preferable for orchard sites
Such lands contain all the elements
of plant food necessary to insure a
good and sufficient wood growth and
, fruitfulness. Fruit grown on such
lands will rank first-class in size
quality and appearance.
All orchard lands should be thor
oughly surface-drained and under
drained. No orchard can endure for
a great length of time with stagnant
water either on the surface or with
in the soil. All surplus water from
excessive rainfall or from other
causes should be promptly removed
by either surface or subdrainage,
The best, most intelligent and ex-
perienced Orchardists differ as to
the best location and exposure of an
orchard, some prefering a northern
slope, others an eastern, and vet
others recommend a southern OF
q even western slope 1t is believed
} that the advantages preponderate in
favor of a gentle eastern or north.
eastern slope, as orchards on such
sites suffer less in both soil and tree
from the effects of heat and drought
In orchard with such an exposure
| will maintain its vigor and longevity
t better than if inclined to the west
or southwest. Near the home is the
! most desirable location for the fam.
lily orchard. If possible the site
should be elevated, thus giving a
free circulation of air, while such an
g elevation will also be of great aid in
guarding against late spring frosts
: so fatal to young trees at the bios.
! soming season.
Dealers who have shipped Wayne
county's native fruit to wholesale
market have been informed of the
superior stock to that of New YorB
state fruit, being, however, advised
at the same time that the spraying
mulching, trimming and general care
has been seriously neglected and thai
il proper methods were used il