Morris tribune., 1912-01-05
ALMOST AN APPLE STATE
Experts Declare Conditions Fav-
orable in Minnesota.
By J. A. wye in Pioneer Press.

emphasizes anew the Importance Oh
Minnesota as an apple growing state.
There were on exhibition more than
120 bushel boxes of choice apples,
indicating the commercial aspect of
the industry, besides several hundreds
plates attractively displayed emphasiz-
ing the large number of varieties
grown. There were over 600 entries
of fruit and nuts on exhibition. 1t
was a display ereditable to any fruit
state. Had there been suitable prizes
offered and adequate space provided,
Minnesota apples in carload lots might
easily have been obtained.
This question was asked of num-
ber of experienced and reliable or
chardists of the state: With the
same amount of intelligence, skill and
labor as is employed in the Western
fruit states, would not Minnesota
equal them in produetion? After
little reflection this answer was in
variably given: eyes" with this
qualification, "There are places in
the West which are more reliable
than Minnesota. This is on account
of the milder climate, the abundance
of water for irrigation purposes. aud
the intensity of the heat in the val.
leys. With irrigation here to control
the moisture needed, there is no ex-
cuse for any one going either West or
East to make his fortune in the fruit
business.
One of the first things that i'm
presses a man who goes from Mime
sofa to the Western fruit lands and
becomes acquainted with Western
methods of growing and handling ap
pies. is the great amount of intel
| ligence, skill and labor involved in the
proper cultivation of an orchard. The
ripe rosy checked apples of commerce
which tantalizes one as he passes
them in the display window, like all
other things of real value, were not
produced without struggle. The
right kind of land must be selected: !:
its location, not only as regards water
rights and usage, but its general con-
tour relative to its adaptability to re-
ceive and sonserve the elements of
nature sunshine and shade, and pro-
lection from blasting winds and frost
must be considered. The cultivation
of an orchard to produce the best re-
| suits, like that of other crops, should
be raised to it's highest development.
No section of the country is immune
from insect pests. 1t may be for a
time in the first stages of develop
ment but sooner or latter this trouble
will come. Spraying may be done
two to four times but to be effec-
tive it must be done at the proper
time. 1t requires a high degree of
intelligence to know just when this
time is. Watering must be done in
the right way and at the proper time.
The harvest is very important. The
fruit should be picked at the proper
season. 1t should be picked, not
clubbed. Every apple shoould be
taken from the tree by hand and
handled gently. An expert is re-
quired to grade and pack them proper
ly. The marketing problem is easily
arl anged through cooperative selling
associations. Thirty to forty per
cent of the apples raised in the best
orchards are not considered first-class.
1t takes knowledge. skill and labor
to overcome these difficulties.
At the Minnesota state fair last
September there was shown an entire
carload of choice Minnesota apples.
boxed and ready for market. These
were grown in an orchard at Howard
Lake, Wright county. At the recent
apple show at Spokane, Wash, the
jewell Nursery company of Lake City
took the first premium in the Middle
West class, which includes Ohio,
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri.
Iowa. Wisconsin and Minnesota. The
apples shown consisted of barrel of
Weaithies grown on what is known as
the Hillside Orchard. The land
before being planted to apples. was
worth but $40 an acre. 1t is now
valued at $3.50 an acre because it pays
30 per cent on such valuation. This
orchard is on hillside. 400 feet above
f, the Mississippi. It is naturally a
difficult proposition to handle an or
chard in such location difficult to
cultivate, to conserve moisture and
to spray. 1t, however, has its adj
vantages. The air currents that OBJ
tain there are very desirable in giving
what is known as "air drainage. !"
Being high and dry, it is not so sus-
ceptible to the ravages of insects and
fungus diseases. It's position is also
conducive to the high sscoloring which
! SI l. R4NN