The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-01-23
CARE OF THE ORCHARD
Paper by W. q. Gray Before the
Mahaska Co. Farmers Institute.

Considerable discussion on the
Question of orchards was had at the
Farmers Institute this year. In fact
much more than has ever heretofore
been given the subject. Our people
are seemingly just awakening to the
possibilities and profits from this in
dustry, where proper care is used in
selection of variety, care and cultiva-
Ition of the tree, attention to the
fruit from the bud to the ripened
crop, and good intelligent manage
ment at all times. ... ..
w. H. Gray, one of the most sue
cessful orchardists in this section,
was to have led in the discussion, but
owing to illness was unable to be
present, but contributed an able pa
lper on the subject, which is here pub
lished in full:
Care and Management Of the Orchard.
The subject is too large to go into
Thoroughly in one short article, but |
will try to set out our methods and
the reasons why we have been so
successful in producing fine apples
when our neighbors have failed.
First, our location sa high eleva.
| ton, with lower lands all around it,
thereby securing fine air drainage,
which saves us generally from late
spring frosts; our soil is black loan,
undertake with joint clay sub-soil,
which holds moisture well. We Sc
| lected thrifty homegrown trees and
cultivated well until the trees began
to bear, and the cutivating machinery
begun to damage the trees and then
we seeded to grass. , Another reason
, for seeding down was our heavy
spraying outfit could not be drawn
over cultivated fields; besides the
heavy mashine ditched and caused
the rolling land to wash into bitches.
| We have kept down the grass and
weeds by grazing sheep in the orch
ard, which keeps it looking like u
park, and also keeps up the fertility
of the soil. We have never had and
trouble with the sheep knawing the
trees. They brOuse OF the low. hang
ing branches, but We consider this
an advantage, as good apples are
never produced under low hanging
branches in dense shade. We go over
every tree every year carefully and
removing all crop branches and all
branches preventing the sun and air
tree and shining on every apple. Fine
apples are never grown in the shade,
as | have stated before, no difference
| whether the apples grow under bot
tom branches or under thick shade
in the center or high up, in the tree.
Many people say, why are your ap-
pies so big and fine and red, even in
a season like this, when others fail
to produce anything at all" Here is
the secret: Thrift of tree and fol.
iage, careful spraying and last but not
least, not permitting any tree at any
time to produce three apples where
it should produce but one. Just as
Well expect big, fine ears of corn in
a hill, with FIVE stalks in 1t. The big
FEARS grow i'm hills Of one and two
stalks. The fertility of the soil must
be maintained; you cannot crop an
orchard till it Is worI out and then
get good apples. Glover and sheep
help this out; thorough spraying is
absolutely necessary TO the produc-
ition of either good trees and foliage,
Ior good apples. We can produce as
fine apples in Iowa as can be produc-
ed anywhere, but not without care;
neither can they be produced any
where else without care; we will
come as near to it as can be done
anywhere.
Here in the corn belt we do not
have to depend on fruit growing for
a living, as they do in many sections
of the west. Our experience proves
to us that the same care given to an
orchard in Iowa will produce as good
returns as 1t will anywhere.
Respectfully,
w. Fl. GRAY.