The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-03-20
MODEL ORCHARDS ADD
100000 TO INCOME.
State Department of Agriculture |
Shows Value of Scientific Care.

State Department of Agriculture
Shows Value of Scientific Care.
An added income of 100000 to
the orchard growers of the State is
the estimate of the State Department
of Agriculture in its annual report
for 1911 in referring to the work of
the inspectors of the model orchards
in Pennsylvania. The inspection and
supervision of over $50 orchards
was conducted by the division of
economic zoology and reports from
all parts of the state showed last
year the crops in these orchards to
be not only large but the fruit to be
exceptionally well formed.
The advantage of scientific man
agement over the old-time methods
of fruit growing, are pointed out
The report says that this treatment
further indicates that the improve
ment thus received by bearing trees
also gives a constant increase in the
valuation of the young trees; but
this added valuation is not included.
Thus from a total list of rs orchards
under the supervision of the Depart
ment, the report shows that the or
chard owners made expenditures on
their trees of S3,971.24 and in re-
turn received s32,199.35, with an
added income throughout the State
of 100000. After a thorough in
vestigation the whole fruit tree stu
alton, the report concludes:
Can Make All Pay.
We therefore make the compre-
hensive statement, without fear of
contradiction, that all bearing or
chards in this state, not actually in
fected with incurable diseases nor
located on absolutely the most un-
favorable sites, with proper treat
ment, can be made the most profit
able areas on the farm"
A number of interested cases are
presented which clearly illustrate
the financial gain derived from the
scientific treatment of fruit trees,
careful pruning, proper spraying and
thoughtful superintendence. Among
these the following are cited:
In Bedford county Samuel F. Pip
er epended $73.6S for the care of
trees, and received from his orchards
the sum of $1,512.6S. William
Finn, who owns large farm in AL
legheny county, spent but SIS and
received S6S4.20. Another case in
Berks county is that of the Bethany
Orphanage Home, which spent 1924
and obtained s1,952. Another farm
er in Butler county had his orchards
treated by the experts at a cost OF
$149. The receipts for the season
from the orchard amounted to S3,-
397.
Orchard Returns Large.
Clayton R. Farmer, of Lancaster
county, made an outlay of S10.72
and his total receipts were $4O0
Prof. John H. Shenck of the same
county, spent s10.10 and had a re.
turn of S100. The most notable case
in Lawrence county was that of c. C.
Cox. His receipts for the year
amounted to s427, and his outlay
was $3.50. In Lebanon county
John G. Eisenhower leads with re.
ceipts of s521.70 and expenses ot
$685.. The record in Snyder coun.
ty is held by w. w. Bruner, whose
expenses were $114.50 and receipts
$1,2S1.5O.
The opening of the report lays
particular stress on the necessity Of
freeing orchards from weeds. In this
connection the findings of the de
partment are as follows:
Growing weeds rob the soil Of
plant food and moisture, thus in
creasing the efforts of drought at 6
time when the tree stands in the
greatest need of water. Their pres
ence, therefore, although extenuateC
by some on the ground of supply
ing mulch for the soil, bodies NJ
good, and the orchardist can wei
afford to make an earnest effort t
destroy them at this season, or a
any time before the ground is cover
ed with snow"
The Right Kind of Soil.
The soil is generally rich and tn,
climate healthful in sections wher,
| hardwood trees thrive. Good crop
of wheat and oats are grown in loca
tions where sugar maple, beech anC
oaks grow. The soil is Of a wet ma