The Delta independent., 1912-07-26
ORCHARD MANAGEMENT IN
RELATION TO FRUIT FAIRS

Upon careful examination of fruit
fairs in the fall of the year one can
generally tell what kind of treatmen
the orchard received during the year
from which the fruit was collected.
II is possible. however, to get first
class show fruit from a neglected or
chard, but this is not the rule The
time is at hand when our fruit fairs
are most representative of the or
chards we maintain, and this is
being more emphasized by the fact
that people who win prizes are the
ones who give much care and atten-
ton in caring for the orchard
throughout the year.
The spring of the year is the
proper time to commence to think
about and prepare for the fairs to
be held in the fall. If one tries to
grow exhibition fruit on all his
trees, the chances are that he will
have first class fruit for market
purposes. Competition is growing
keener and it is now necessary in
order to obtain the highest price
! to grow only the very best. In
order to do this. careful attention
must be paid TO the various phases
of orchard management. Careful in
dividual study of each tree should
be made to ascertain its vitality. gem
eral condition, etc. The first thing
Q be considered in the orchard is
the. sanitary condition of the soil.
One should see that the soil con-
tains plenty o humus or decayed
organic matter, since without this
element plant food becomes unavail-
able the soil does not obtain moisture
well and does not hold it when ap-
Piled.
One should look carefully after the
pruning TO see that the branches are
stocky, capable of supporting heavy
load of fruit, allowing plenty of sun
light to penetrate, securing the prop
er spread and not allowing the tree
10 grow too high. All these will have
much to do with securing a better
grade of fruit for market and the
fair. The trees may require a very
heavy thinning. this to be done some
time during the latter part of June
or first of July. Thinning facilities
selecting and grading the fruit in the
fall as fewer culled and ununiform
apples will have to be handled. Such
varieties as the Winesap and Missouri
Pippin should be thinned to about
eight inches apart. When thinning
do not look at the apples which have
fallen to the ground but notice on
ly those still remaining on the tree.
See that each one is so located that
it will not become limb bruised.
caused either by limbs or by wind.
All wormy fruit should be picked off
and destroyed. All doubles should
be broken as they often do not OBJ
tain the proper size and give the
worms better chance to enter the
side.
Fruit fairs should be patronized by
every orchardist, and it should be
the aim of each to display the rep
resentative fruit of his orchard so
that the total selection would be n
representation of the locality. The
orchardist should spend but few
moments in selecting show fruit but
should bear in mind during all the
season that his object is to grow
the best fruit possible on every tree.
not only for show purposes, but for
market. In a way. everyone likes
competition, especially IL he thinks
he stands chance OF winning. and
1t should be the chance OF every or
chardist. not only to win premiums
at fairs. but to put upon the market
the very best product that the mar
ket demands. Everyone likes to see
and hear OF honest advertising and